cramp 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkramp How to pronounce cramp (audio)
Definition of crampnext
as in stitch
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle I was suddenly awakened by a cramp in my leg

Synonyms & Similar Words

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cramp

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult an antismoking ordinance that was seen as just another cramp on business by bar owners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cramp

3 of 3

verb

as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of having to constantly entertain guests at the summer cottage was really cramping my writing efforts

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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 cramp
Noun
Neither trial was designed to test ordinary leg cramps in healthy adults, and both were small pilots. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026 Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps in most people infected. — Eva Flowe august 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
An interior cabin on a mass-market ship will be cramped and dark with no natural light. — Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 20 Aug. 2026 The space is cramped and chaotic as volunteers and visitors squeeze past each other between the rows of cages in a converted office space. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cramp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramp
  1. stitch
  2. obstacle
  3. impede
  4. contraction
  5. hurdle
  6. hinder
  7. spasm
  8. embarrassment
Noun
  • York’s arrest is the latest turn in a dramatic summer for the 49ers, who opened training camp last month with the news of a car crash 10 days prior that had left coach Kyle Shanahan with a concussion and dozens of stitches to his face.
    — Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The bandages, cuts and stitches were still fresh from the terrifying attack on Jones Street on Wednesday evening.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of stitch
Noun
  • Bond yields Persistent inflation, tariffs and whipsawing gas prices are not the only obstacles complicating the task for the Fed.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The emotional incompatibility of self-care Applebaum said that even those who can overcome the practical obstacles often still struggle to take care of themselves.
    — Elissa Strauss, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • Kupor, head of the government’s chief human resources agency since July 2025, has publicly argued even jobs conducive to remote work can be impeded by working from home.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Carly Simon, whose recent Parkinson’s diagnosis didn’t impede her from releasing her first album in 18 years, Comes in Waves, has seemingly dedicated a song to her ex-husband, James Taylor.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of impede
Noun
  • Further disruption could weaken the rial, push inflation toward triple digits, and deepen an economic contraction currently estimated at 5%, a former Iranian central bank adviser told CNBC.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The index measures the percentage difference between companies reporting expansion against contraction.
    — Sean Conlon,Joseph Wilkins,Justina Lee,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of contraction
Noun
  • An open field across from the Dean and Barbara White Southlake YMCA could potentially be the site of Crown Point’s first pet adoption and resource center but multiple hurdles still remain.
    — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The organizations, specialists and larger coalition of the willing have to contend with these hurdles.
    — Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurdle
Verb
  • That means making choices that support fertility, not hinder it — like getting regular exercise or cutting out cannabis, nicotine and alcohol.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Dodson and Rodriguez had been competing for the starting spot opposite Brooks, but injuries to that unit had watered down the competition and hindered the evaluation process.
    — Omar Kelly August 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of hinder
Noun
  • If not properly administered and monitored, an unsafe amount of potassium entering the body can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, kidney dysfunction, muscle weakness or spasms, metabolic disturbances or death, according to Ameri Pharma.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Stiff-person syndrome’s most common symptoms include muscle stiffness and painful spasms that can lead to secondary effects, like unsteady gait, double vision, and slurred speech, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of spasm
Noun
  • My guess is the players might work a little harder to entertain the fans instead of turning what should have been a showcase event into the embarrassment that was this year’s All-Star Weekend.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • And with many of these videos racking up millions of views, the ensuing embarrassment for the unwitting subjects can be palpable.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrassment

Phrases Containing cramp

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cramming
cramp
cramped
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Cite this Entry

“Cramp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramp. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cramp

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cramp

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