1
as in cramp
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle
he suffers terribly from back spasms
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in burst
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a spasm of love that he had never experienced before
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spasm
China has been mostly sitting out the conflict, at least publicly, viewing it as a spasm of violence emanating from a superpower hard-pressed to assert its hegemony over a weaker opponent.
—
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 May 2026
Baseball has a way of happening and Glasnow’s back spasms might just be the first thing to postpone the Dodgers’ decision on who gets bumped out of their overstuffed rotation.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
The most common side effects of TEPEZZA include muscle cramps or spasms, nausea, hair loss, diarrhea, feeling tired, high blood sugar, hearing problems, taste changes, headache, dry skin, ear discomfort, weight loss, nail problems, and changes in menstruation.
—Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
He was sidelined since April 22 because of back spasms.
—CBS News, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 May 2026
Baseball has a way of happening and Glasnow’s back spasms might just be the first thing to postpone the Dodgers’ decision on who gets bumped out of their overstuffed rotation.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
The most common side effects of TEPEZZA include muscle cramps or spasms, nausea, hair loss, diarrhea, feeling tired, high blood sugar, hearing problems, taste changes, headache, dry skin, ear discomfort, weight loss, nail problems, and changes in menstruation.
—Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
He was sidelined since April 22 because of back spasms.
—CBS News, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm
Noun
-
To complain about cramps was futile.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
Menstrual cramps occur when the myometrium contracts to expel the uterine lining.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
All over the dress, shimmering sequins created bursts of firework-like patterning, with varied tones of metallic silver.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 May 2026
-
The Tempo went on a 10-0 burst heading into the second quarter but the Sparks countered to maintain momentum and led 46-38 at halftime.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Rubin, with the exquisite detail of its images, is well placed to find these types of events, in which stars disappear in explosions that can be too faint for other surveys to see.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 May 2026
-
In New York City, the explosion of rideshare pickups and last-mile delivery overwhelmed curbside infrastructure built for a different era.—
Chase Garbarino,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Even Republicans, who usually feigned ignorance about the President’s social-media outbursts, were weighing in.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
There was the occasional outburst as angry drivers leaned heavily on their horns, filling the peaceful meadow with a sudden blast of urban agita, but in general, things remained calm.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
As previously reported, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius released thermal energy roughly equivalent to 100,000 times the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, spewing molten rock, pumice, and hot ash over the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in particular.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
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Its origin—Crater Lake formed following a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago—only adds to the allure.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
In a remote part of northwestern Venezuela, there is a crack and flash of lightning most nights of the year.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
-
Yet the sport still shows flashes of strength.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Every leaf, branch, and gust of wind bounces sound waves back to the hunter, creating a deafening acoustic fog.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
-
Wind gusts could peak to 25 to 30 mph in the valleys and 35 mph on ridgetops, Black said.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Daily News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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