spasmodically
Not at all steadily
Spasmodically means in sudden, irregular bursts rather than steadily or continuously.
The word derives from spasm—an involuntary muscular contraction—but usually describes any fitful, intermittent action: The engine sputtered spasmodically before dying.
He worked spasmodically on the novel, sometimes writing for weeks, then abandoning it for months.
Involuntary muscular contractions
- jerkingAbrupt, spasmodic movement
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- tremorsSlight shaking movements
- shudderingConvulsive trembling motion
contractions · involuntary · muscle · fit · paroxysm · myoclonus · spasticity · clonic
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
- fitfulIrregular and spasmodic
- periodicOccurring at intervals
- episodicOccurring in distinct segments
- occasionalHappening at intervals
irregular · on-and-off · discontinuous · recurrent · interrupted · infrequent · cyclical · alternating
Cannot be anticipated
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- variableProne to fluctuation
- fluctuatingShifting irregularly over time
haphazard · random · capricious · volatile · unsteady · mercurial · desultory · fickle
twitching
Involuntary muscular contractions
- jerkingAbrupt, spasmodic movement
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- tremorsSlight shaking movements
shuddering · contractions · involuntary · muscle · fit · paroxysm · myoclonus · spasticity · clonic · tonic
sporadic
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
occasional · irregular · on-and-off · discontinuous · recurrent · interrupted · infrequent · cyclical · alternating · patchy
unpredictable
Cannot be anticipated
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- variableProne to fluctuation
fluctuating · haphazard · random · capricious · volatile · unsteady · mercurial · desultory · fickle · unreliable
abrupt
Sharp and unexpected
surge · flash · startling · unexpected · impulsive · explosive · precipitous · swift · quick · sharp
- infrequencyrarely, seldom, infrequent, infrequently, occasionally
spasmodicallyregularly
At fixed intervals
steadily · consistently · rhythmically · periodically · predictably
spasmodicallysmoothly
Without friction or difficulty
fluidly · gracefully · evenly · flowingly · continuously
spasmodicallycontinuously
Without pause or interruption
constantly · steadily · uninterruptedly · persistently · ceaselessly
spasm, spasms, spasmodic, spastic, antispasmodic, muscle spasm, antispasmodics, spastically