as in stitch
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle
I was suddenly awakened by a cramp in my leg
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cramp
Michelle Kaufman
may 8, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026
Greek Yogurt Greek yogurt is an effective food for relieving muscle cramps.
—Oluseun Olufade, Verywell Health, 8 May 2026
Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Eventually, people could not resist returning to their lives, to routines more comfortable than standing in the streets with the sun glaring in your eyes, squinting up to check the position of snipers on a roof, or working with cramping fingers sewing your tenth mask of the night.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cramp
Noun
Ian Fray, who left the game with leg cramps, has been undergoing treatment for leg discomfort and did not train Friday.
—Michelle Kaufman
may 8, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026
Greek Yogurt Greek yogurt is an effective food for relieving muscle cramps.
—Oluseun Olufade, Verywell Health, 8 May 2026
Verb
The Mercury and Gemini spacecraft were too cramped to change clothing, so on those early missions, the crew members remained in their pressure suits.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Eventually, people could not resist returning to their lives, to routines more comfortable than standing in the streets with the sun glaring in your eyes, squinting up to check the position of snipers on a roof, or working with cramping fingers sewing your tenth mask of the night.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cramp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramp
Verb
-
During the next three weeks, mobile internet was impeded or shut off in the center of Moscow.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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State and federal agencies don’t track data around vitamin K injection refusal or subsequent bleeding, which impedes their ability to quantify and track outcomes, including death.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Those struggles from deep, specifically Clark’s, are not going to hinder them all season.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
-
Officials say that bright sunlight hindering the driver's vision could be a possible contributing factor.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The intensity of the flames and the resulting smoke, compounded by the fact that the fire spread over the area mostly after dark, hampered the aerial firefighting strategy.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Those involved may not want to push their expensive retro recreation to the limit but it is certainly got the potential to embarrass plenty of more modern machines.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
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Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Maden and Algerio charged Brown with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Justice Department charged Comey with making false statements and obstructing justice in connection with his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Deputy Solicitor General Eric Feigin said blocking such searches would handicap police searching for murderers, kidnappers and robbers.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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The previous mission, launched in 2023, was envisioned to include 2,500 personnel and was led by the Kenyan police, but it was handicapped by a lack of staff and funds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cramp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramp. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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