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
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
Designer Pam Hutter agrees, noting that dark gray can make spaces feel cramped and dreary, particularly in small rooms.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 29 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
For example, declarants have described while in DHS custody being forced to sleep in a freezing and cramped room without bedding, Julio Doe Decl.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Hong Kong has about 368,000 such workers, mostly women from low-income Asian countries who live with their employers, often in cramped spaces.
—Jessie Pang, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Having actual professional equipment in a space that doesn’t feel cramped made such a difference.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
Disabled veterans say the sheds are cramped, flimsy and problematic for wheelchairs and walkers.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Hosting can expose practical flaws, such as whether the table is large enough for guests to dine without feeling cramped.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
Gone are the days when working out at a hotel meant using outdated machines in a stuffy, cramped gym; today’s top properties are re-thinking fitness as a central park of the guest experience, designing trails, courts, and classes to immerse them in more natural surroundings.
—Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Our family of four was split between two Ocean View Balcony staterooms which, while compact, never felt cramped, with good storage in the cupboards, a TV with live-channels and pay-per-view movies, a desk, fridge, sofa area, and decent-sized bathroom.
—Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Keeping in the same position for a long period of time, especially if cramped or uncomfortable, can also lead to muscles tensing up and feeling tight.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
The future didn’t look like old, cramped industrial cities.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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
Designer Pam Hutter agrees, noting that dark gray can make spaces feel cramped and dreary, particularly in small rooms.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 29 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
For example, declarants have described while in DHS custody being forced to sleep in a freezing and cramped room without bedding, Julio Doe Decl.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Hong Kong has about 368,000 such workers, mostly women from low-income Asian countries who live with their employers, often in cramped spaces.
—Jessie Pang, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025
Verb
Her hand and arm cramped, her shoulder ached, and her knee throbbed, all while the rain soaked through their clothes.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Having actual professional equipment in a space that doesn’t feel cramped made such a difference.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
Disabled veterans say the sheds are cramped, flimsy and problematic for wheelchairs and walkers.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Hosting can expose practical flaws, such as whether the table is large enough for guests to dine without feeling cramped.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
Gone are the days when working out at a hotel meant using outdated machines in a stuffy, cramped gym; today’s top properties are re-thinking fitness as a central park of the guest experience, designing trails, courts, and classes to immerse them in more natural surroundings.
—Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Our family of four was split between two Ocean View Balcony staterooms which, while compact, never felt cramped, with good storage in the cupboards, a TV with live-channels and pay-per-view movies, a desk, fridge, sofa area, and decent-sized bathroom.
—Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Keeping in the same position for a long period of time, especially if cramped or uncomfortable, can also lead to muscles tensing up and feeling tight.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
The future didn’t look like old, cramped industrial cities.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramped
Adjective
-
New York State now has six months to develop a plan to comply with a recent class action settlement addressing the lack of adequate mental health services for confined youth.—
Gladys Carrión,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In a confined world of discipline, a girl’s quiet longing unfolds through a box of chocolate, where desire and control begin to dissolve.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With Frimpong sidelined, Conor Bradley out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and Joe Gomez still hampered by a hip problem, Slot has a major headache at right-back.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Medical timeout Alcaraz was as close as two points from victory in the third set but was hampered by pain in his upper right leg and his medical timeout became contentious.—
John Pye,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
With limited time to build up to Saturday Night’s Main Event, just days before the Royal Rumble, Rhodes and Fatu hit a home run with one of the early candidates for feud of the year.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Geographic barriers and limited profit potential have long discouraged private internet service providers from these areas, thus necessitating public investment.—
Letters to the Editor,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, the water vapor in that impeded breath condenses on the surface of your immediately-adjacent prescription glasses, sunglasses or ski goggles.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Adding palbociclib, however, blocked this adaptation and impeded the cancer cells’ ability to survive.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
This meant that the MQ-20 could fly aggressively without the danger of wandering into restricted civilian airspace or high-threat corridors.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In Indianapolis, Mayor Joe Hogsett said at a news conference Monday that travel would remain restricted to essential workers until at least midnight.—
Jen Guadarrama,
IndyStar,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Concepcion dealt with a speech impediment that hindered his public speaking.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s ability to increase across-the-board tariffs on goods from South Korea or other countries could be hindered by the outcome of a landmark tariff case currently before the Supreme Court.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Starlancer was a narrower simulator in the vein of Wing Commander or X-Wing, following a linear narrative about alliances of Earth's nations battling in the void of space.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has largely halted refugee admissions, with the narrow exception of White South Africans.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During our first visit, Maryam, embarrassed by her English, refused to ask the salesperson a question.—
Jennifer Obel,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
-
We’re all supposed to be embarrassed by prizes or feel above them or apart from them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cramped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramped. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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