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pertaining to or of the nature of a spasm; characterized by spasms.
resembling a spasm or spasms; sudden but brief; sporadic:
spasmodic efforts at reform.
given to or characterized by bursts of excitement.
historical examples

they are all stimulant and antispasmodic, and are used either internally or as a friction, like oil of amber.
cooley’s cyclopdia of practical receipts and collateral information in the arts, manufactures, professions, and trades…, sixth edition, volume i arnold cooley

antispasmodic and sedative; but chiefly employed for its colour.
cooley’s practical receipts, volume ii arnold cooley

antispasmodic and nervine; in hysteria, hypochondriasis, epilepsy, and low fevers.
cooley’s cyclopdia of practical receipts and collateral information in the arts, manufactures, professions, and trades…, sixth edition, volume i arnold cooley

they are still used by the arabs as an expectorant and antispasmodic.
encyclopaedia britannica, 11th edition, volume 16, slice 3 various

it is sometimes used as an antispasmodic in hysteria, epilepsy and ch-r-a.
the medicinal plants of the philippines t. h. pardo de tavera

this plant is used as an antispasmodic in asthma and chronic cough.
the american reformed cattle doctor george dadd

antispasmodic, expectorant, and tonic, and in quant-ty emetic.
cooley’s practical receipts, volume ii arnold cooley

it is valuable as an antispasmodic and stimulant, and at one time had a great reputation as a cure for cholera.
catalogue of economic plants in the collection of the u. s. department of agriculture william saunders

antispasmodic; applied to the stomach or abdomen in spasms, hysteria, &c.; and to the chest in hooping-cough.
cooley’s practical receipts, volume ii arnold cooley

antispasmodic, an-ti-spaz-mod′ik, adj. opposing spasms or convulsions.
chambers’s twentieth century dictionary (part 1 of 4: a-d) various

adjective
preventing or arresting spasms, esp in smooth muscle
noun
an antispasmodic drug
adjective
taking place in sudden brief spells
of or characterized by spasms
adj.

1681, from medieval latin spasmodicus, from greek spasmodes “of the nature of a spasm,” from spasmos (see spasm) + -odes “like.”

antispasmodic an·ti·spas·mod·ic (ān’tē-spāz-mŏd’ĭk, ān’tī-)
adj.
preventing or relieving convulsions or spasms. n.
an antispasmodic agent.

spasmodic spas·mod·ic (spāz-mŏd’ĭk)
adj.

relating to, affected by, or having the character of a spasm; convulsive.

happening intermittently; fitful.

given to sudden outbursts of energy or of feeling; excitable.

spas·mod’i·cal·ly adv.