spastic

1 of 2

adjective

spas·​tic ˈspa-stik How to pronounce spastic (audio)
1
a
: relating to, marked by, or affected with spasm
a spastic colon
b
: characterized by hypertonic muscles
spastic cerebral palsy
2
: spasmodic sense 2
a spastic influx of data
3
disparaging + offensive : clumsy or awkward
spastically adverb

spastic

2 of 2

noun

disparaging + offensive
: a clumsy or awkward person

Examples of spastic in a Sentence

Adjective even after the formal surrender, spastic violence erupted in scattered quarters of the city
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Each of these families has a child with spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG50), a rare neurological disorder that affects fewer than 100 people in the world. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2025 That boom is ebbing just as the administration’s spastic trade offensives are hammering U.S. ag export prospects over the foreseeable future. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025 Now approaching her second birthday, Lydia has been diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy—a severe form of brain injury that affects all four limbs and her trunk, significantly impacting mobility and muscle control. Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025 At the center of the show is Henry Creel actor Louis McCartney, who was nominated for best actor in a play for his unnerving, spastic performance. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for spastic

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin spasticus, from Greek spastikos drawing in, from span

First Known Use

Adjective

1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spastic was in 1753

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spastic. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

spastic

adjective
spas·​tic
ˈspas-tik
: of, relating to, characterized by, or affected with or as if with spasms
spastic colon

Medical Definition

spastic

adjective
spas·​tic ˈspas-tik How to pronounce spastic (audio)
1
: relating to, marked by, or affected with spasm see also spastic colon
2
: characterized by spasticity or spastic paralysis
spastic hemiplegia
see also spastic cerebral palsy
spastically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on spastic

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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