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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cramps
Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Some people consider dark chocolate a natural remedy for period cramps and pain.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
In addition to menstrual cramps, patients may also experience headache, dizziness, lower back pain, nausea and vomiting during a painful period.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
That’s why dehydration can show up as muscle cramps, dizziness or even an irregular heartbeat.
—Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
No official guidelines exist for magnesium dosage specifically for period cramps.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025
For those who may be using a magnesium product to manage leg cramps or uncomfortable tingling sensations, Troxel warned that these symptoms may be a sign of restless legs syndrome, a clinical sleep disorder commonly associated with iron deficiency.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Some of the most popular health claims on social media credit magnesium for better mood, fewer cramps, sounder sleep, and less anxiety—all of which might sound appealing to growing teens.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 22 Sep. 2025
Symptoms can include dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
And if not for leaving for seven plays in the fourth quarter with cramps, Dowdle almost certainly would have broken Williams’ mark.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Some people consider dark chocolate a natural remedy for period cramps and pain.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
In addition to menstrual cramps, patients may also experience headache, dizziness, lower back pain, nausea and vomiting during a painful period.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
That’s why dehydration can show up as muscle cramps, dizziness or even an irregular heartbeat.
—Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
No official guidelines exist for magnesium dosage specifically for period cramps.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025
For those who may be using a magnesium product to manage leg cramps or uncomfortable tingling sensations, Troxel warned that these symptoms may be a sign of restless legs syndrome, a clinical sleep disorder commonly associated with iron deficiency.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Some of the most popular health claims on social media credit magnesium for better mood, fewer cramps, sounder sleep, and less anxiety—all of which might sound appealing to growing teens.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 22 Sep. 2025
Symptoms can include dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramps
Verb
-
That kind of overload hinders change and makes future efforts more challenging.—
Daniel Schmeltz,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Nevertheless, the lack of efficient electrolytes with fast hydride ion conductivity, thermal stability, and electrode compatibility hinders their practical applications.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 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,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If a mental image only impedes the human’s process of emulation, why should her mindedness make Celmins’s web less natural than the spider’s?—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth and progress.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These early shifts—less COVID vaccination; fewer options for flu, MMR, and chickenpox vaccines; and, perhaps soon, delays to the hepatitis-B schedule—may seem benign enough.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.—
Jeremy Tanner,
The Hill,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cramps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramps. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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