spasmodic
adjective
[ spazˈmɒdɪk ]
• occurring or done in brief, irregular bursts.
• "spasmodic fighting continued"
Similar:
intermittent,
fitful,
irregular,
sporadic,
erratic,
occasional,
infrequent,
scattered,
patchy,
isolated,
odd,
uneven,
periodic,
periodical,
recurring,
recurrent,
on and off,
• caused by, subject to, or in the nature of a spasm or spasms.
• "a spasmodic cough"
Origin:
late 17th century: from modern Latin spasmodicus, from Greek spasmōdēs, from spasma (see spasm).
