as in contractions
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle
I was suddenly awakened by a cramp in my leg
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cramps
Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
The loss of fluids and electrolytes can cause lightheadedness, excessive thirst, and muscle cramps.
—Pamela Assid Woughter, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2026
Banana and Peanut Butter Bananas are a nutrient-dense carbohydrate that may prevent muscle cramps.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 7 Jan. 2026
Peterson missed the previous two games with cramps and missed seven prior games with a hamstring injury.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026
Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
The predominant symptoms experienced by the ill passengers and crew members were vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Kansas Jayhawks freshman point guard Darryn Peterson, who played just five minutes in the second half of KU’s Monday season opener against Green Bay because of a recurring bout with cramps, practiced Tuesday night and again Wednesday.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other ailments.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
The vaccine campaign has been so effective that today, many pediatric medical residents have never encountered an infant hospitalized because of the infection, which can cause days of diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and fever.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
The loss of fluids and electrolytes can cause lightheadedness, excessive thirst, and muscle cramps.
—Pamela Assid Woughter, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2026
Banana and Peanut Butter Bananas are a nutrient-dense carbohydrate that may prevent muscle cramps.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 7 Jan. 2026
Peterson missed the previous two games with cramps and missed seven prior games with a hamstring injury.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026
Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
The predominant symptoms experienced by the ill passengers and crew members were vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Kansas Jayhawks freshman point guard Darryn Peterson, who played just five minutes in the second half of KU’s Monday season opener against Green Bay because of a recurring bout with cramps, practiced Tuesday night and again Wednesday.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other ailments.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramps
Verb
-
The Martian atmosphere presents a major obstacle to safely and precisely landing on the surface, and also hinders any attempts to return contents (or people) back to Earth.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Therefore, the siloed nature of retail, not a lack of skills or resources, will prove to be the most significant barrier that hinders progress.—
Raj Dhiman,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
20 Dec. 2025
-
During the meeting, Amy Flottemesch, president of the Cincinnati Food Truck Association, said the curfew impedes food truck owners’ ability to do business, which relies on late-night crowds.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Dec. 2025
-
There, the father of the bride gets too drunk and embarrasses himself.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The San Diego Padres have a lot of money tied up in their star position players, which handicaps them in free agency.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Nov. 2025
-
Rams 23, 49ers 20 Lock of the Week Much was made this week about the Bills failing to acquire a wide receiver at the trade deadline and whether that handicaps their Super Bowl chances.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Department officials later told her in texts and emails that delays completing the more detailed review of Rochelle’s home were her fault.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
But that was before the arrival of teplizumab, a monoclonal antibody approved in late 2022 that delays the advance of the illness and may even halt it at stage 2 in some people.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cramps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramps. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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