plural spasms
1
: a sudden uncontrolled and often painful tightening of a muscle
violent back spasms
a disease that causes muscle spasms
2
: a sudden and usually brief occurrence of something you cannot control
He was racked with coughing spasms.
She was suffering spasms of guilt.
spasms of joy/rage
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/spasm. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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