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
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
Advertisement Advertisement Permethrin is a neurotoxin that targets an insect’s nervous system, triggering muscle spasms, paralysis, and eventually death.
—
Angela Haupt, Time, 24 June 2025
Rioters across Los Angeles set Waymo cabs ablaze in a spasm of violence over federal immigration enforcement in the West Coast metropolis.
—Nr Editors, National Review, 13 June 2025
Stress and anxiety have indeed been linked to pelvic floor dysfunction, but there’s a physical component to this relationship too that can contribute to muscle spasms and subsequent burning.
—Cheyenne Buckingham, SELF, 13 May 2025
Manipulating your neck too aggressively or frequently can also strain the muscles surrounding your cervical spine, which can lead to pain, stiffness, or muscle spasms in your neck.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
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Angela Haupt, Time, 24 June 2025
Rioters across Los Angeles set Waymo cabs ablaze in a spasm of violence over federal immigration enforcement in the West Coast metropolis.
—Nr Editors, National Review, 13 June 2025
Stress and anxiety have indeed been linked to pelvic floor dysfunction, but there’s a physical component to this relationship too that can contribute to muscle spasms and subsequent burning.
—Cheyenne Buckingham, SELF, 13 May 2025
Manipulating your neck too aggressively or frequently can also strain the muscles surrounding your cervical spine, which can lead to pain, stiffness, or muscle spasms in your neck.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spasm. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spasm
noun1
: 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
noun1
: 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
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