spasmodic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or of the nature of a spasm; characterized by spasms.
-
resembling a spasm or spasms; sudden but brief; sporadic.
spasmodic efforts at reform.
- Synonyms:
- fleeting, periodic, intermittent, occasional
-
given to or characterized by bursts of excitement.
adjective
-
taking place in sudden brief spells
-
of or characterized by spasms
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of spasmodic
First recorded in 1675–85; from Medieval Latin spasmodicus, from Greek spasmṓd(ēs) “spasmodic” (derivative of spasmós spasm; see -ode 1) + Latin -icus -ic
Explanation
Something that is spasmodic is experiencing a fit, a loss of muscular control. If you are spazzing out, you are spasmodic. A sudden fit or involuntary contraction of the muscles is called a spasm; thus spasmodic means to behave in such a way. Spasmodic is also commonly used to refer to a violent emotional outburst — for example, your parents might be spasmodic when they discover you're really majoring in partying, not medicine, at college.
Vocabulary lists containing spasmodic
Achievement First 8th Grade IA 1 Words
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"The Sniper" by Liam O’Flaherty
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"To Build a Fire" by Jack London
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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.
Spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition, in which an abnormality in the brain’s neural network results in involuntary spasms of the muscles that open or close the vocal cords.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2024
Spasmodic outbreaks of puckish humor shatter his calm executive mask.
From Time Magazine Archive
Spasmodic asthma may be relieved by the same treatment.
From Papers on Health by Kirk, Edward Bruce
Spasmodic firing began again in the morning, but a truce was before long arranged, which proved to be only a device for enabling Arabi and his troops to escape.
From The Development of the European Nations, 1870-1914 (5th ed.) by Rose, John Holland
Spasmodic closure of the neck of the womb is common and is easily remedied in the mare by dilatation with the fingers.
From Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by Michener, Charles B.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
