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
Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Avoid very sugary drinks and alcohol, which can cause your body to lose more fluid, and be wary of extra-cold drinks that may cause stomach cramps.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Tariq Malik, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Hahn writes that the Tidal Basin is cramped, overly popular with tourists and others who come to take photos, and sometimes flooded.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cramp
Noun
The reality was a tumultuous year defined more by his cramps and seesaw availability than signature moments.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Avoid very sugary drinks and alcohol, which can cause your body to lose more fluid, and be wary of extra-cold drinks that may cause stomach cramps.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
While the Orion spacecraft is larger than NASA's Apollo capsules, it's still cramped — the interior has been compared to that of two SUVs.
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Hahn writes that the Tidal Basin is cramped, overly popular with tourists and others who come to take photos, and sometimes flooded.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cramp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramp
Verb
-
The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of forcibly impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Castle has become nearly impossible to impede.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Others blame social media for hindering crew members from socializing—and carousing—together.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Awardees say the terminations hinder economic progress, not just in their communities but across the state.—
Nora Mabie,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sandboxing allows firms to focus solely on moving experiments swiftly through the pilot phase because the teams working on them are not hampered by juggling experimentation with their day-to-day.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
His attempts at a comeback could still be hampered.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And when that happens, Jamahl Mosley — a good coach and an even better man — will be the fall guy for a team that is embarrassing itself on a national scale and getting exposed in the league standings.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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The very existence of Tisch’s relationship and conversations with Epstein, which are not in dispute, should be enough to embarrass the NFL.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Police said 65-year-old William Hemphill was arrested and charged with obstructing highway passageway.—
CBS Texas Staff,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The opportunities for science abound, such as the spectacular sight of a solar eclipse when the moon fully obstructs the sun from view.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The conflict has led to big swings in equities, bonds, currencies and commodities markets, with traders trying to handicap how long the war will last.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But Khan had sold outdated blueprints, and the agency believed that this had handicapped the Iranians, who had never engineered the necessary centrifuges.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cramp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramp. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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