Thesaurus results for SPASM

spasm

noun

ˈspa-zəm

Definition of spasm

as in cramp

a painful sudden tightening of a muscle he suffers terribly from back spasms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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 spasm If not properly administered and monitored, an unsafe amount of potassium entering the body can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, kidney dysfunction, muscle weakness or spasms, metabolic disturbances or death, according to Ameri Pharma. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 Stiff-person syndrome’s most common symptoms include muscle stiffness and painful spasms that can lead to secondary effects, like unsteady gait, double vision, and slurred speech, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026 In December 2022, Dion announced she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause muscle stiffness and painful spasms. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 On Saturday, Nick Bolton essentially got a rest day with three plays and Drue Tranquill did not play because of back spasms. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spasm

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm

Noun

In just his first year, a bacterial infection gave him nonstop diarrhea, belly cramps and a fever.

— Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Players can also request a three-minute medical time-out for each injury that occurs — which could include overheating symptoms such as dizziness or cramps.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of cramp

Noun

That flexibility makes flow batteries particularly relevant to long-duration storage, where systems may need to deliver electricity for several hours rather than simply provide short bursts of backup power.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2026
Could Civale maybe be used in shorter bursts, meaning he could be used more often?

— Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of burst

Noun

Among the most destructive munitions in Western military arsenals, an MK-84 explosion sends metal fragments in every direction for thousands of feet, can rip through metal and thick concrete, and often creates large craters in the earth.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
The supervisor also will have a say in the county’s defense against a multimillion-dollar lawsuit stemming from the deadly 2025 Esparto fireworks explosion.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of explosion

Noun

The Geology Agency cautioned that volcanic activity remains elevated and the probability of further eruptions is still high.

— Niniek Karmini, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
The volcano launched ash into the air and into the city of Jakarta and the Lampung province during a 25-hour-long eruption.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of eruption

Noun

The Road Ahead While many of us have focused on the flash of AVs, the transportation sector has adopted AI tools to create safer, more efficient streets, intersections and interstates.

— Bryan Mistele, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Dart showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, demonstrating a playmaking ability possessed only by the best quarterbacks in the league.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of flash

Noun

The eastward shift increased the chances of hurricane-force wind gusts on Niihau and possibly Kauai, especially at higher elevations, the hurricane center warned.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Residents can expect winds to be southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and humidity as low as 8%.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of gust

Browse Nearby Words

spas

spasm

spasmodic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of spasm

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

watershed

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes