cramps 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of cramp
as in contractions
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle I was suddenly awakened by a cramp in my leg

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cramps

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of cramp
as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult an antismoking ordinance that was seen as just another cramp on business by bar owners

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cramps

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of cramp
as in hinders
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cramps
Noun
Promising rookie Romello Height returned to action Wednesday after leaving Monday’s practice lying flat on a cart with severe cramps. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 29 July 2026 Salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea that might have blood or mucus, abdominal cramps and fever. — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2026 Their main symptoms were abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 July 2026 While uncommon, an extremely bitter piece of summer squash can indicate the presence of naturally occurring compounds called cucurbitacins, which can cause stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 27 July 2026 Symptoms include tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, balance issues and muscle cramps. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026 Gastrointestinal illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites commonly trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026 Cyclosporiasis has been sickening thousands of people across the country, particularly in Michigan, recently with an intestinal illness causing explosive diarrhea with severe stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and unintended weight loss. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026 As for the most recent outbreak on the ship, 18 of the 62 passengers on board were sickened with symptoms of vomiting and abdominal cramps, according to the report. — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramps
  1. stitches
  2. obstacles
  3. hinders
  4. spasms
  5. hurdles
  6. hampers
  7. kinks
  8. embarrassments
Noun
  • Lynch confirmed an initial report by ESPN that Shanahan fractured his nose, a hand and three ribs, while requiring over 40 stitches to his face and sustaining a severe concussion.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 25 July 2026
  • Shanahan broke his nose, three ribs, his hand, needed over 40 stitches in his face and suffered a severe concussion in the accident, according to ESPN.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of stitches
Noun
  • One of Thursday’s stations included the ‘Confidence Course,’ where campers crawled through tight spaces and wooden obstacles in their heavy gear.
    — Julianna Mejia July 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • Set in the 1980s during the NASA space shuttle program, this suspenseful novel reveals the complexity behind every expedition, following the relationships and obstacles while conveying a love of exploring the unknown.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 31 July 2026
Definition of obstacles
Verb
  • Less interaction hinders collective knowledge and empathy, potentially worsening mental health.
    — Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Neptune retrograde hinders our intuition, leaving us lost in the fog.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of hinders
Noun
  • Injury updates Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (back spasms) has progressed to the live batting practice phase of his rehab progression, Roberts said.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
  • The whole thing lands closer to a murky inversion of early Return to Forever than the punk spasms of Naked City.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
Definition of spasms
Noun
  • The View From the Major Carriers Buying Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile outright comes with regulatory, legal and monetary hurdles.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 30 July 2026
  • Deadlines slide, unexpected integration hurdles emerge and the anticipated return on investment starts to slip.
    — Susana Cabrera, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of hurdles
Verb
  • Cybersecurity experts increasingly warn that restricting access to advanced AI models hampers defenders’ ability to identify vulnerabilities, test systems, and develop countermeasures.
    — James Marks, Fortune, 23 July 2026
  • Neighbors of the state park who have become accustomed to spontaneous visits found that the new system hampers their ability to make a last-minute trip.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
Definition of hampers
Noun
  • As the wide receivers continue to work out the kinks, Sammis has been pleased with the progress of another position group.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
  • The defense proves disruptive as the offense works out the kinks on the first day of training camp.
    — Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 29 July 2026
Definition of kinks
Noun
  • Sitting around a table in the soundstage where the pilot for I Love Lucy was filmed, the six of them tailored the roles to the actors and infused the script with arguments, embarrassments, and confessions from their own relationships.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026
  • The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Definition of embarrassments

Browse Nearby Words

cramp one's style
cramps
cramps one's style
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Cite this Entry

“Cramps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramps. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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