1. sudden, involuntary contractions of muscles
Usage: medical
2. sudden bursts or outbreaks of activity or emotion
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The runner experienced painful muscle spasms in her leg.
• Back spasms kept him awake all night.
• The medication helped reduce the frequency of her spasms.
• He suffered spasms of coughing during his illness.
• The country went through spasms of political unrest.
• She had spasms of laughter at the comedy show.
• The patient’s spasms gradually subsided with treatment.