spasmodic

Universal Words adjective 1 happening suddenly for short periods of time; not regular or continuous: a spasmodic interest in politics * There was spasmodic fighting in the area yesterday. 2 (technical) caused by your muscles becoming tight in a way that you cannot control: spasmodic movements spasmodically adverb: Her involvement with the organization continued spasmodically for fifteen years. * His hand jerked spasmodically.