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
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 body temperature rises and humidity limits the body’s ability to cool itself, mild symptoms such as cramps and headaches can progress to shortness of breath, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and ultimately life-threatening heat stroke. — Laura Schifter, Time, 17 July 2026 The gastrointestinal illness, which can cause frequent, watery diarrhea or explosive bowel movements, nausea, cramps, bloating and low-grade fever, has sickened people in 34 states. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Since May, at least 34 states have reported cases of cyclosporiasis, an infection that causes severe diarrhea, cramps, and flu-like symptoms. — Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026 Symptoms include clammy skin, nausea, cramps, vomiting and headache. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and fatigue that overlap considerably with other gastrointestinal illnesses, making clinical diagnosis difficult without specific laboratory testing to identify the causative pathogen. — Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 July 2026 People may also have unusually bad gas, stomach cramps and nausea. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 10 July 2026 Health officials are still working to learn what has caused more than a thousand people nationwide to fall ill with this condition that can cause explosive diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and low-grade fever. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 10 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
  • Manager Craig Counsell said Swanson likely needs stitches but should be fine.
    — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
  • The canine subsequently bit a crew member, who required 15 stitches.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of stitches
Noun
  • However, engineers have historically run into two main obstacles.
    — David Szondy July 16, New Atlas, 17 July 2026
  • Conversely, if only the ground robots had been employed, the defenders could have remained under cover until the robots exhausted their ammunition or blocked their advance with physical obstacles.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of obstacles
Verb
  • Such realism, buttressed by frank discussions of perimenopause and other facts of midlife, helps rather than hinders the show’s ability to transport.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 July 2026
  • This misalignment generates contradictory messages, hinders decision-making and ultimately creates confusion throughout the organization.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of hinders
Noun
  • Heat cramps are painful muscle cramps and spasms that usually occur in the legs and abdomen followed by heavy sweating.
    — Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
  • Adames departed Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves due to back spasms after striking out to end the seventh inning, noticeably grimacing during the follow-through of his swing.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Definition of spasms
Noun
  • But there are still hurdles to clear before the proposal can become a reality.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 16 July 2026
  • And down payments have become some of the biggest hurdles to buying.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of hurdles
Verb
  • 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
  • Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of hampers
Noun
  • Ship 40 and Booster 20, the Starship vehicles that will fly on Flight 13, will follow the same set of mission objectives to shake out the remainder of kinks in Starship V3.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 10 July 2026
  • Now, the project is still in its early stages, with many kinks, known and unknown, to iron out.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 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 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cramps

Nglish: Translation of cramps for Spanish Speakers

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