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
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
Potterheads across the globe will instantly recognize Harry’s not-so-homely house on Privet Drive, his cramped excuse of a bedroom and the endless disdain oozing from the young wizard’s unloving aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley.
—Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 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
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
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
The dressing rooms, as cramped as that area can get under the main stand, would also have passed the 30-square-metre minimum requirement, plus the necessary six showers and four toilets.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Some photos show cramped cabins with small windows and beds that can sleep two to four people.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 9 May 2026
The top of the shoe is lightweight and breathable, so your feet aren’t stuck feeling hot or cramped halfway through the day.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Decluttering improves flow and functionality, helping your home feel less cramped without major changes.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 5 May 2026
The 14-inch LCD screen offers a 1366-by-768 HD-ready resolution and was a little cramped for multiple windows.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Slim-profile seating reads as elegant rather than cramped.
—Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
Adjective
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
Potterheads across the globe will instantly recognize Harry’s not-so-homely house on Privet Drive, his cramped excuse of a bedroom and the endless disdain oozing from the young wizard’s unloving aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley.
—Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 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
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
Verb
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
The dressing rooms, as cramped as that area can get under the main stand, would also have passed the 30-square-metre minimum requirement, plus the necessary six showers and four toilets.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Some photos show cramped cabins with small windows and beds that can sleep two to four people.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 9 May 2026
The top of the shoe is lightweight and breathable, so your feet aren’t stuck feeling hot or cramped halfway through the day.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Decluttering improves flow and functionality, helping your home feel less cramped without major changes.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 5 May 2026
The 14-inch LCD screen offers a 1366-by-768 HD-ready resolution and was a little cramped for multiple windows.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Slim-profile seating reads as elegant rather than cramped.
—Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramped
Adjective
-
For instance, light particles like positrons (or electrons, in this experiment) need extremely fast oscillations, gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, to stay confined.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Diners are there to enjoy a nice, relaxing meal, but some dogs, especially very large dogs or multiple dogs, can be a handful in small, confined spaces.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But most summit speakers treated circularity—a nebulous concept at the best of times—largely as an engineering challenge, one hampered by immature infrastructure, policy gaps and weak economics.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
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The company is seeking to create a Duchenne gene therapy that is more effective and safer than Sarepta Therapeutics’ Elevidys, which has been hampered by safety concerns, particularly following the deaths of two recipients from liver failure.—
Jason Mast,
STAT,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Marettimo The most remote of the Egadi Islands, tiny Marettimo—accessible via ferry from Trapani—remains delightfully rustic thanks to its limited accessibility, near absence of cars, and lack of large hotels.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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And while the state has seen strong GDP growth in recent months, business groups still worry that this economic success could be stifled by limited job growth and economic uncertainty in the wake of federal policy changes.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the victim both times, impeded by Kevin Schade and then Igor Thiago.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
In the Jazz Age, the culture and the style that Bradley was soaking up every night were information that white performers craved, but which racial segregation impeded them from accessing.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Investigators say Mott climbed over an 8-foot fence topped with barbed wire before entering the restricted airfield.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
And speaking of restricted free agency, the obvious winner for most regrettable decision one year later was choosing Christian Braun’s extension over Peyton Watson’s.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The chaos that ensued has seen a clash of play styles, with some players trying to transcend their normal strategies and others falling victim to the same mistakes that have hindered their past quests for victory.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
-
White had hoped to have a college athlete career playing basketball and lacrosse but was hindered by injuries and several surgeries on her knees.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The five-time Masters champ was arrested March 27 on a DUI charge after the crash, which occurred when his Land Rover SUV attempted to pass a pickup truck pulling a pressure-cleaner trailer on a narrow, two-lane road in the Treasure Coast town.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
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The company also topped revenue expectations for the first quarter and posted a narrower-than-expected loss than analysts anticipated, according to FactSet.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The Sixers were embarrassed by the Knicks 144-114 in Game 4 in front of a New York-heavy crowd in South Philadelphia.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
That this series has flipped on its head seemed almost impossible last Sunday, when the Celtics embarrassed Philadelphia in a Game 4 win on the Sixers’ home floor.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cramped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramped. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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