spasmodically
1
8.6
- adverb
- /spæzˈmɒdɪkli/
:
espasmódicamente
- And as the air grew clearer, the body itself began spasmodically to twitch.
- jerked spasmodically
- twitching spasmodically
- legs jerked spasmodically
Examples
-
The patient reacted spasmodically, causing concern among the doctors.
-
A search for the missing schoolgirls and their governess continued spasmodically for the next few years without success.
-
The other type, what I will call the "entity controls," have been applied more spasmodically, but with a great deal more controversy.
Academic text (1994) -
Other revelations came to me spasmodically.
Fiction book (1990) -
Sherman, you know I only read the newspapers spasmodically.
-
Tuomas soon followed with the child in his arms, her muscles contracting spasmodically as he carried her.
Fiction book (1992) -
His Adam's apple bobs spasmodically, as if he's trying to remember how to swallow.
Fiction book (1996) -
The engines spasmodically wheezed, and a sudden tilt brought her heart up into her throat; the plane was turning.
Fiction book (2002) -
I clutched the mast spasmodically then, and thought: I can't!
Fiction book (1995) -
The search may begin intensively and continue spasmodically for some time, often involving repeated and futile inspection of places that have already been checked.
Academic text (1999)
Synonyms
15
6.0
In a way that stops and starts at irregular times
13
6.5
Happening only sometimes and not regularly
3
3.8
Happening sometimes and stopping at other times
1
7.4
Happens at irregular times, starting and stopping
Antonyms
How Intermittent
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Spasmodically comes from the word spasm, and from an old Greek root spasmos meaning 'a sudden pull' or 'twitch'. So to act spasmodically is to do something in short, sudden bursts or jerks, like a muscle that suddenly twitches instead of moving smoothly.