1
as in confined
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2
as in constricted
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Dissimilar Words
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
Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
My cargo capri pants have a flexible waistband for easy sitting in cramped plane seats, while my breezy jumpsuit is a one-and-done casual outfit.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
The trial kicked off April 8 in a cramped second-story courtroom in Burbank.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Thirty minutes before the start of the Gaston County Schools board meeting, attendees already spilled out of the boardroom and into the cramped hallway.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
An intense paint color can also make an often small space, such as a bathroom, feel even more cramped and humid.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
The dynamic keeps the film from ever feeling too cramped or quiet, and the characters from ever being held at too far a remove.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
The defendants’ family members jockeyed for spots in the cramped space.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
This summer, Dallas must better balance its roster around Flagg so he won’t be asked to maneuver on such a cramped floor again.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2026
Failing to Declutter First Trying to overhaul your current storage system while the garage is cramped with clutter (which also minimizes the value of your home) is unproductive.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2026
Baresi had cramped up in the latter stages, but still led by example.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The cells were frequently cramped, dark, unventilated, and damp.
—Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
This has really cramped Amerisafe’s special distribution.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
If a room in your home feels cramped and needs a refresh, Nicole Gibbons, Founder, and CEO of Clare Paint, offers advice.
—Elizabeth Sweet, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
And yet every day writers call me from conference rooms at their day jobs, or cramped kitchens with their children, or cars sitting in their driveways—sometimes the only place quiet enough to think.
—David O’Neill, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Yes, the Knicks could dominate the paint on both ends of the floor, but Brown worried the pairing cramped spacing offensively and left New York vulnerable to mismatches defensively.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
Adjective
Water is a constant threat The men became trapped during an expedition to find gold within the cramped and muddy underground caverns.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
My cargo capri pants have a flexible waistband for easy sitting in cramped plane seats, while my breezy jumpsuit is a one-and-done casual outfit.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
The trial kicked off April 8 in a cramped second-story courtroom in Burbank.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Thirty minutes before the start of the Gaston County Schools board meeting, attendees already spilled out of the boardroom and into the cramped hallway.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
An intense paint color can also make an often small space, such as a bathroom, feel even more cramped and humid.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
The dynamic keeps the film from ever feeling too cramped or quiet, and the characters from ever being held at too far a remove.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
The defendants’ family members jockeyed for spots in the cramped space.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
This summer, Dallas must better balance its roster around Flagg so he won’t be asked to maneuver on such a cramped floor again.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
Synthetic fabrics can feel sticky and uncomfortable on long travel days, while breathable, natural fibers tend to wear better in cramped cabins and changing temperatures.
—Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2026
Failing to Declutter First Trying to overhaul your current storage system while the garage is cramped with clutter (which also minimizes the value of your home) is unproductive.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2026
Baresi had cramped up in the latter stages, but still led by example.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The cells were frequently cramped, dark, unventilated, and damp.
—Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
This has really cramped Amerisafe’s special distribution.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
If a room in your home feels cramped and needs a refresh, Nicole Gibbons, Founder, and CEO of Clare Paint, offers advice.
—Elizabeth Sweet, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
And yet every day writers call me from conference rooms at their day jobs, or cramped kitchens with their children, or cars sitting in their driveways—sometimes the only place quiet enough to think.
—David O’Neill, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Yes, the Knicks could dominate the paint on both ends of the floor, but Brown worried the pairing cramped spacing offensively and left New York vulnerable to mismatches defensively.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramped
Adjective
-
Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
-
Darker colors like charcoal or slate gray absorb light and can make a kitchen feel more confined.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
But like Hulst, he was also hampered by injuries.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Clark is finally at full strength again after, hampered by a groin injury, played in only 13 games a year ago.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Steep price drops on the prospect of peace have pushed many oil bulls to the sidelines, leaving them to hold small positions for very limited periods of time, several traders said.—
Devika Krishna Kumar,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott, said Canada was overreacting as Texas and USDA are moving quickly to contain and eradicate screwworm in a limited area of South Texas.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Macy’s was notorious in its industry for how siloed its teams and culture were, characteristics that impeded prior turnaround efforts until Spring, CEO since 2024, instilled a culture of self-examination and an ability to admit mistakes before quickly moving on.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
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Aid workers have also told CNN that the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and US funding cuts carried out prior to the outbreak have impeded the response.—
Erikas Mwisi,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Irizarry pleaded guilty to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.—
Eleanor Watson,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
McCollum said the system is intended to help officers identify potential aerial threats and respond before drones reach restricted areas.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The search may be hindered by thunderstorms moving through the area Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
Undeterred, the siblings set off on a perilous journey, helped and hindered by both natural and supernatural elements along the way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Malaysian diver Lee Kian Lie told CNN that rescue divers were teaching the villagers how to dive out of the cave themselves, as the space is narrow and water levels are not coming down despite efforts to pump the water out.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Delegates to the state conventions don’t mirror the broader electorate, and their candidate selections can often represent more narrow preference of the party base.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
But Americans don’t want to see the home team embarrassed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
Some fans weighed in on his outfit choice on social media, sparking conversations about if the actor might have embarrassed his wife.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cramped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramped. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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