1
as in squeezing
to fit (people or things) into a tight space
tried to cram one more book into the backpack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in filling
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained
crammed his mouth with candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gorging
to fill with food to capacity
one of those eating contests in which competitors attempt to cram themselves with as many hot dogs as they can in three minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in inhaling
to swallow or eat greedily
the thoughtless guest crammed a dinner that had taken hours to prepare
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of cramming
Bring a lightweight coat with big pockets, and start cramming stuff into them.
—
Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Instead of using an oversized crock or cramming utensils into drawers and making a mess, try hanging them on the wall.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
However, Wittmann cautions against cramming one’s day planner with novel experiences as a means of seizing (and holding on to) the day.
—Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 8 Apr. 2026
With referees increasingly tolerant of grappling inside the six-yard box, more teams are deliberately cramming players around opposition goalkeepers, blocking their movements and attacking the space around them rather than the ball itself.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Spreading protein across breakfast, lunch and dinner also works better than cramming it into one meal.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
The plush red seats of the Concertgebouw's main auditorium are occupied by students cramming for upcoming exams and finishing dissertations as classical music fills the hall.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Which is exactly why Paradise’s increasingly disruptive flirtations with time travel feel frustrating on a structural level, like the show is cramming another puzzle box inside the puzzle box.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Buchanan, unaware of the extent of Mayne’s star power, picked up the roughly 6-foot-4 Pritzker Prize-winner from the airport, cramming him into her Nissan Sentra.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Instead of using an oversized crock or cramming utensils into drawers and making a mess, try hanging them on the wall.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
However, Wittmann cautions against cramming one’s day planner with novel experiences as a means of seizing (and holding on to) the day.
—Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 8 Apr. 2026
With referees increasingly tolerant of grappling inside the six-yard box, more teams are deliberately cramming players around opposition goalkeepers, blocking their movements and attacking the space around them rather than the ball itself.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Spreading protein across breakfast, lunch and dinner also works better than cramming it into one meal.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
The plush red seats of the Concertgebouw's main auditorium are occupied by students cramming for upcoming exams and finishing dissertations as classical music fills the hall.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Which is exactly why Paradise’s increasingly disruptive flirtations with time travel feel frustrating on a structural level, like the show is cramming another puzzle box inside the puzzle box.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Buchanan, unaware of the extent of Mayne’s star power, picked up the roughly 6-foot-4 Pritzker Prize-winner from the airport, cramming him into her Nissan Sentra.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramming
Verb
-
Higher oil prices have sharply increased operating expenses for shipping firms, squeezing margins and forcing governments, including Hong Kong, to step in with temporary support.—
Lee Ying Shan,Emily Tan,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, China has rapidly expanded capacity in its drive to become more self-sufficient, contributing to a global glut of product and squeezing European companies.—
Marilen Martin,
Bloomberg,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Seeing a gap and filling the need, when the Boston Marathon was canceled for the first time in its history, PRC decided to host their own marathon.—
Courtney Cole,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Experts say consumers can benefit from comparing prices before filling up, using apps or local knowledge to find cheaper options.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And all those who find the Dodgers’ gorging offensive also tend to overlook that their spending provides real benefits as well.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Of all the schemes that humans have devised to keep sea lions from gorging on the salmon of the Columbia River basin, none has worked for long.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Those with asthma or other breathing illnesses are more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide and may have trouble breathing after inhaling it.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Luckily, there was about 15 minutes of tiara chat while inhaling scones to make the time pass more quickly.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Springsteen sat in the front row, but spent a large portion of the night delivering speeches and jamming with the inductees.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2026
-
For them, jamming serves as a useful edge case.—
Matt von Hippel,
Quanta Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For travel days, pair your airport-ready sweatsuits with the Everyday Trainer Sneakers, or toss the Scrunched Sneakers that feature a flexible silhouette into your suitcase to make packing a breeze.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Amazon's fulfillment services include the process of storing, packing and shipping orders.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When Bastian ducks into a bookstore and starts reading a book about a malevolent force (the Nothing) devouring the realm of Fantasia, the narrative comes to life.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Given Augusta National’s penchant for giving up low scores this week, and its historic habit of devouring potential champions on the final day, a potentially classic day is taking place in eastern Georgia.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
King clipped Ramón Urías with a slider, loading the bases.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The Rays had a chance for a potential big inning earlier in the game, loading the bases with two outs in the third.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cramming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramming. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
