paroxysm
noun
any sudden, uncontrollable outburst; a fit of emotion or action: a paroxysm of laughter; The war unleashed a paroxysm of violence.
paroxysmally
-
a word derived from
paroxysm.
-
a word derived from
paroxysmal.
paroxysmaladjectivesudden and uncontrolled.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
EPILEPSY, which affects one person out of every 100 is caused by clusters of brain cells, or foci, that discharge electrical impulses paroxysmally.
From Time Magazine Archive
Worst, in croup, is a steadily or paroxysmally increasing difficulty of breathing, with a dry hissing or whistling sound of respiration and cough succeeding the barking sounds of the earlier stage.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
Their brain seems to act like that of the alligator or the pike, paroxysmally, and by rare fits and starts, after lying for hours motionless as if asleep.
From At Last by Kingsley, Charles
The same may be said of maladies which come on paroxysmally, and leave those blessed intervals of ease of which Paley, himself a sufferer, writes with such unaccustomed tenderness.
From The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, October 1879 by Various
