spasm

noun

ˈspa-zəm 

1

: an involuntary and abnormal muscular contraction

2

: a sudden violent and temporary effort, emotion, or sensation

a spasm of creativity

spasms of pain

spasm intransitive verb

Synonyms of spasm

• cramp

Examples of spasm in a Sentence

a disease that causes muscle spasms

He was racked with coughing spasms.

She was suffering spasms of guilt.

Recent Examples on the Web

The whole thing lands closer to a murky inversion of early Return to Forever than the punk spasms of Naked City. — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026

The stone is the fight with a friend, back spasm, or lost client. — Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

The top-level changes late Tuesday were intended to draw a line under an unwelcome spasm of political turmoil that lasted almost a week and prompted rejoicing in Russia. — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Tyler Glasnow is even further away from pitching in big-league games as his back spasms have kept him out for months. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English spasme, from Anglo-French espasme, from Latin spasmus, from Greek spasmos, from span to draw, pull

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spasm

• bronchospasm
• cytoplasm
• ectoplasm
• neoplasm
• protoplasm
• vasospasm
• chasm
• chiasm
• nazim
• plasm
• enthusiasm
• iconoclasm

Kids Definition

spasm

noun

ˈspaz-əm 

1

: a sudden uncontrolled contracting of muscles

back spasms

2

: a sudden violent and temporary effort, emotion, or outburst

a spasm of creativity

spasm verb

Medical Definition

spasm

noun

ˈspaz-əm 

1

: an involuntary and abnormal contraction of muscle or muscle fibers or of a hollow organ (as an artery, the colon, or the esophagus) that consists largely of involuntary muscle fibers

2

: the state or condition of a muscle or organ affected with spasms

the renal artery went into spasm