spasmodically

[spaz-mod-ik-lee]

adverb

1. in sudden, brief, or sporadic bursts.

   The plane engine began to cough and sputter spasmodically.

   Mail arrived only spasmodically, so communication with the outside world was limited.

Other Word Forms

• unspasmodically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of spasmodically¹

spasmodic ( def. ) + -ally ( def. )

Related Words

• again and again 
• generally 
• intermittently 
• many times www.thesaurus.com
• often 
• periodically 
• regularly 
• time and again www.thesaurus.com
• usually