1
as in confined
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2
as in constricted
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as in hampered
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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Recent Examples of cramped
Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 9 Mar. 2026
Cue the aforementioned wedding, lavish but hastily put together, and a sudden, drastic change in lifestyle, as she and Junyang are forced to live under the same roof as Boon Kiat and Bee Hwa, a cramped and fractious arrangement even before the baby’s arrival.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
Avoid large pieces that clutter the space and block pathways to other rooms or the front door, as these can make the room feel cramped and less inviting.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
Animals were found in cramped cages amid feces, piles of trash trash and the remains of other animals.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Lopatin and Safdie spent around four months in the summer and fall of 2025 working on the score in a cramped midtown studio.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
As a New Yorker herself, Bellizzi treasured envisioning the cramped Lower East Side milieu that opens the film.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2025
There is a wry, sardonic Reinerian sensibility to be found in all of his best work, even in the cramped and frightening confines of Misery (1990).
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025
Skeptical journalists, excitable influencers, and industry insiders alike all climbed aboard an open-top bus for a sightseeing tour of London that culminated at a cramped and stifling-hot theater.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2025
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
The rooms The ample size is a serious draw here, especially in Santa Monica, where many hotel rooms feel cramped.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2026
The trade cramped their spacing and closed up driving lanes for Edwards.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Jesus, everything was going fine, and then my right typing hand just cramped up and… OOOOOOOUUUUCCCHHHHHH!
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026
Nike also made sure these sneakers had a wide forefoot, toe box, and arch, so your feet willnever feel cramped.
—Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
But, cramped in our bags, we were driven almost mad by our black-fly bites.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
The cacophonous construction in the film opening scene is of a ramshackle company hut for Junior’s whole family to live in — nothing more than a one-room shed, it’s cramped and unequal to the coming rainy season.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026
Also, the Barefoot's slim, cramped wet bath compartment never looked like the most comfortable to use, so opening up that space might ultimately improve life on the road.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Poor Space Planning Awkward door swings, insufficient clearance, poor storage options, or improper placement of vanities and toilets make any bathroom feel cramped and inconvenient.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 9 Mar. 2026
Cue the aforementioned wedding, lavish but hastily put together, and a sudden, drastic change in lifestyle, as she and Junyang are forced to live under the same roof as Boon Kiat and Bee Hwa, a cramped and fractious arrangement even before the baby’s arrival.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
Avoid large pieces that clutter the space and block pathways to other rooms or the front door, as these can make the room feel cramped and less inviting.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
Animals were found in cramped cages amid feces, piles of trash trash and the remains of other animals.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Lopatin and Safdie spent around four months in the summer and fall of 2025 working on the score in a cramped midtown studio.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
As a New Yorker herself, Bellizzi treasured envisioning the cramped Lower East Side milieu that opens the film.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2025
There is a wry, sardonic Reinerian sensibility to be found in all of his best work, even in the cramped and frightening confines of Misery (1990).
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025
Skeptical journalists, excitable influencers, and industry insiders alike all climbed aboard an open-top bus for a sightseeing tour of London that culminated at a cramped and stifling-hot theater.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
If your kitchen is too cramped for cookbooks, get creative.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
The rooms The ample size is a serious draw here, especially in Santa Monica, where many hotel rooms feel cramped.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2026
The trade cramped their spacing and closed up driving lanes for Edwards.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Jesus, everything was going fine, and then my right typing hand just cramped up and… OOOOOOOUUUUCCCHHHHHH!
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026
Nike also made sure these sneakers had a wide forefoot, toe box, and arch, so your feet willnever feel cramped.
—Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
But, cramped in our bags, we were driven almost mad by our black-fly bites.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
The cacophonous construction in the film opening scene is of a ramshackle company hut for Junior’s whole family to live in — nothing more than a one-room shed, it’s cramped and unequal to the coming rainy season.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026
Also, the Barefoot's slim, cramped wet bath compartment never looked like the most comfortable to use, so opening up that space might ultimately improve life on the road.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramped
Adjective
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And some experts worry that as measles continues to appear in confined environments—such as, recently, an ICE facility in Texas—adequate infection-prevention measures will too frequently fall short.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The new tubes solve that problem with an internal divider at the middle of the tube that helps trap the air in a confined chamber.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The journey is hampered by lack of money and other misfortunes, and it’s eventually interrupted by a gunshot, announcing the cantankerous presence of Tiga.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
-
It has also been hampered by its own investors failing to back it, Semafor’s technology editor reported.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Pezeshkian's message, seemingly recorded in a hurry, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracy's leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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As a redshirt freshman, Freeny has had to battle for playing time this season, going multiple stretches with limited minutes, including one minute of action during last week’s loss to Minnesota.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That, De Bremaeker said, impeded efforts to submit emergency court filings to prevent their removal from the country without due process.—
Anissa Rivera,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
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But the totality of the circumstances greatly impeded my ability to write Ballot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yet despite Brunson clearly beating Gilgeous-Alexander to the spot and positioning himself outside of the restricted area, no official called a foul on the play.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Right-hander Salomón Torres spent several years on the restricted list after playing 1993-97 for three teams before returning to the majors in 2002 at age 29 to pitch for seven more seasons with two teams.—
Ed Guzman,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That all but hindered their ability to disguise.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
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Lackluster support from the mayor’s office for law enforcement has hindered recruitment and retention.—
Juan Rangel,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Zero tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, a narrow channel just off Iran’s southern coast that’s normally packed with an armada of 60 or more ships carrying 20% of the world’s oil.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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The narrow Strait is the only way for tankers to enter and exit the Persian Gulf.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Would the girl with the bright smile have been embarrassed by her love Stitch as a teen?—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
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The team embarrassed Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round, and swept the North American neighbor in four straight Olympic tune-ups.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cramped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramped. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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