SPASMODIC Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'spasmodic' contrast with its synonyms?

The words convulsive and fitful are common synonyms of spasmodic . While all three words mean "lacking steadiness or regularity in movement," spasmodic adds to fitful the implication of rapid or violent activity alternating with inactivity. // spasmodic growth

Q: When is 'convulsive' a more appropriate choice than 'spasmodic'?

The synonyms convulsive and spasmodic are sometimes interchangeable, but convulsive suggests the breaking of regularity or quiet by uncontrolled movement. // convulsive shocks

Q: When is it sensible to use 'fitful' instead of 'spasmodic'?

While in some cases nearly identical to spasmodic , fitful implies intermittence, a succession of starts and stops or risings and fallings. // fitful sleep

spasmodic

adjective

spaz-ˈmä-dik

Definition of spasmodic

as in sporadic

lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence spasmodic problems that we will have to deal with as they crop up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excitable

easily excited by nature a talk show host who was famed for his edgy, spasmodic manner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective spasmodic contrast with its synonyms?

The words convulsive and fitful are common synonyms of spasmodic. While all three words mean "lacking steadiness or regularity in movement," spasmodic adds to fitful the implication of rapid or violent activity alternating with inactivity.

spasmodic growth

When is convulsive a more appropriate choice than spasmodic?

The synonyms convulsive and spasmodic are sometimes interchangeable, but convulsive suggests the breaking of regularity or quiet by uncontrolled movement.

convulsive shocks

When is it sensible to use fitful instead of spasmodic?

While in some cases nearly identical to spasmodic, fitful implies intermittence, a succession of starts and stops or risings and fallings.

fitful sleep

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of spasmodic To what was such a spasmodic discord owed? — Julio Cortázar, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025 Kennedy, 71, has spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition in which the muscles that open and close his vocal cords spasm involuntarily, creating a strained or strangled quality to his speech. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025 Hearing the diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia from the specialist was devastating. — David Chiu, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 There is no cure for spasmodic dysphonia, but there are treatments available. — Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spasmodic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasmodic

Adjective

Bahrain and Kuwait, which have continued to face sporadic Iranian attacks, will have the lowest staffing of the Gulf embassies, with three-quarters of Foreign Service members returning.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Attacks on Kenscoff have escalated The first major attack on Kenscoff occurred in January 2025, and since then, there have been sporadic attacks in the mountains surrounding the city center.

— Pierre-Richard Luxama, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of sporadic

Adjective

Ross doesn’t tend towards punch-the-air climaxes—just warm, excitable builds.

— Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2026
Shaffelburg’s boundless enthusiasm and high work rate led one LAFC staffer to liken him to an excitable golden retriever, a comparison the player did not challenge.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of excitable

Adjective

There are occasional non-permanent exhibitions relating to architecture and design.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
Their Conan is the host for the Oscars, a podcast host, a voice in Toy Story 5, a world traveler, an occasional actor, and many other things.

— Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of occasional

Adjective

The letter writer is almost 40 and nervous about living with a romantic partner for the first time.

— Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026
That energy spike is reinforcing inflation worries in a bond market already nervous about America’s $40 trillion mountain of debt.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of nervous

Adjective

With intermittent rain in the forecast over the next week, some sessions could be rescheduled or delayed for hours, corralling fans and shortening the time players have to recover for their next round.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
The project is designed to turn intermittent solar generation into a more dependable power source.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of intermittent

Adjective

Officials are still investigating the exact cause, though preliminary assessments suggest an ice avalanche may have blocked a river upstream in Tibet, triggering the sudden outburst flood.

— Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
The concierge can be contacted via WhatsApp, but response times can be slow during varying rush hours; for example, a sudden tropical rainstorm might inspire half the resort to call in for room service.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sudden

Adjective

The Salt River's first major dam, Roosevelt Dam, was completed in 1911 in an effort to tame erratic flows and wrangle its water for the nascent farming communities downstream.

— Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
The sibling drama, meanwhile, rather fades out of view amid these loftier goings-on; the film’s narrative begins to feel devised by the old parlor game Consequences, repeatedly wrenched in erratic new directions.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of erratic

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spasm

spasmodic

spasms

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“Spasmodic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasmodic. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of spasmodic

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