spasmodic

American  

[spaz-mod-ik] / spæzˈmɒd ɪk /

Sometimes spasmodical

adjective

1. pertaining to or of the nature of a spasm; characterized by spasms.

2. resembling a spasm or spasms; sudden but brief; sporadic.

   spasmodic efforts at reform.

   Synonyms:

   fleeting, periodic, intermittent, occasional

3. given to or characterized by bursts of excitement.

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spasmodic British  

/ spæzˈmɒdɪk /

adjective

1. taking place in sudden brief spells

2. of or characterized by spasms

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Other Word Forms

• antispasmodic adjective
• postspasmodic adjective
• spasmodically adverb
• unspasmodic adjective
• unspasmodical adjective

Etymology

Origin of spasmodic

First recorded in 1675–85; from Medieval Latin spasmodicus, from Greek spasmṓd(ēs) “spasmodic” (derivative of spasmós spasm; -ode ¹ ) + Latin -icus -ic

Example Sentences

Religious folks have words for such spasmodic departures from the everyday, like beatitude, nirvana, ecstasy.

From Salon

Laryngeal dystonia, known previously as spasmodic dysphonia, is a rare condition that affects over 50,000 people in the US and Canada.

From Science Daily

Laughter is a sudden, spasmodic expulsion air, but, at the same time, it is adjacent to other, more concerning practices of expulsion and denigration.

From Salon

Consultations with doctors eventually brought a brutal diagnosis: spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder in which the muscles in the larynx tighten or lapse into spasms, strangulating speech while making singing a significant challenge.

From New York Times

He also has a noticeably strained, raspy voice caused by spasmodic dysphonia, a disorder that causes involuntary spasms in the muscles of the voice box.

From BBC