See Definition

spasm

noun

See Dictionary Definition
1
as in cramp
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle he suffers terribly from back spasms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in burst
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a spasm of love that he had never experienced before

Synonyms & Similar Words

Thesaurus Entries Near spasm

spas

spasm

spasmodic

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on spasm

Nglish: Translation of spasm for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of spasm for Arabic Speakers

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of sandbag

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Words Named After People

  • name tags
  • Namesake of the leotard, Jules Léotard had what profession?
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games