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
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
Orlando will also learn more about Anthony Black (low back strain), Jonathan Isaac (left knee strain) and rookie Jase Richardson (low back spasms) upon its return home.
—
Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
The reigning Masters winner withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational Saturday after suffering back spasms during his range session.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
That won't be the case for Rory McIlroy, who felt muscle spasms in his back and decided to withdraw about 30 minutes before his tee time.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Last season, Lugo dealt with a finger injury and back spasms.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
The reigning Masters winner withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational Saturday after suffering back spasms during his range session.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
That won't be the case for Rory McIlroy, who felt muscle spasms in his back and decided to withdraw about 30 minutes before his tee time.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Last season, Lugo dealt with a finger injury and back spasms.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm
Noun
-
The citrate pulls water into the colon and causes a laxative effect, stomach cramps or gas, Cassetty and Shelgikar said.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Her hands had lasting damage—cramps and pains that got worse as the temperature outside got colder.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fans who braved the snow outside were rewarded by a 23-second burst where Vladimir Tarasenko scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2026
-
This captivating fruity-floral blend bursts with a juicy mix of peach, lychee, and bergamot.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Synagogue blaze investigated as arson THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- An explosion that caused a small fire at the entrance of a synagogue in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam early Friday is being treated as arson, police said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The explosion occurred during an epic battle over building a subway under Wilshire Boulevard from downtown.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
News of the concert comes on the heels of a tumultuous few years for Ye, once a titan of the genre, who has since become better known for public outbursts on social media deriding both Jewish and Black people.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
At age 2, children may have frequent tantrums that parents will have to mediate for them–responding with self-control and support instead of frustration and an outburst of their own.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Watched behind his closed eyelids the eruption of strange visual forms, shapes of light blooming and disintegrating, blue green and yellow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Her message endured the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, centuries of burial beneath volcanic ash, and the slow fade of time itself.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Traditional mechanical breakers take milliseconds to interrupt a fault, a brief but dangerous window where an arc flash, or dangerous, high-temperature electrical explosion, can occur.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Tornado warnings were issued across the Illinois area as a large tornado continued to sweep through Illinois and into Indiana, along with large hail and the risk of flash flooding.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Residents can be ready for wind gusts of up to 50 mph.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Look for tea-cup-sized hail (3 inches) and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
