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
However, Jones missed Scranton’s game on Friday with back spasms.
—
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 July 2025
Short-wave diathermy (SWD): Electromagnetic radiation is used to generate heat within deep tissues, which is thought to induce an anti-inflammatory response, reduce joint stiffness, promote tissue repair, and reduce muscle spasm and pain.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2025
Rioters set Waymo cabs ablaze in Los Angeles last night in the ongoing spasm of violence the last several days over federal immigration enforcement in the West Coast metropolis.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 June 2025
Unfortunately, the two have something else in common—Jones hasn’t played since his three-homer game on July 24 due to back spasms.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 July 2025
Short-wave diathermy (SWD): Electromagnetic radiation is used to generate heat within deep tissues, which is thought to induce an anti-inflammatory response, reduce joint stiffness, promote tissue repair, and reduce muscle spasm and pain.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2025
Rioters set Waymo cabs ablaze in Los Angeles last night in the ongoing spasm of violence the last several days over federal immigration enforcement in the West Coast metropolis.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 June 2025
Unfortunately, the two have something else in common—Jones hasn’t played since his three-homer game on July 24 due to back spasms.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm
Noun
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The bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, ranging from diarrhea and vomiting to stomach cramps.—
Mark Harper,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
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Symptoms may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, dizziness, and nausea.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Jefferson relies on his burst and explosiveness to dominate opposing defensive backs.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
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The latest report came as consumers await a possible burst of inflation as President Donald Trump's tariffs take hold.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There's also been an explosion of machine identities, known as non-human identities (NHIs), that enterprises have to contend with.—
TK Keanini,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Within hours, the hospital would receive trauma victims from a series of explosions at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works.—
Salena Zito,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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This was no isolated outburst, but part of a broader effort to delegitimize conservative participation in academic life.—
Ilya Shapiro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
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As the other undefeated team, Canada outscored its three opponents 19-4, but had to rely on some third-period outbursts to run up those offensive numbers.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Those eruptions happened over tens of thousands of years.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
21 Aug. 2025
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The convective rock currents continue to flow slowly and ripple over millions of years, leading to rare volcanic eruptions that bring diamonds to Earth’s surface or help uplift mountains, the researchers found.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One to 2 inches of rain is expected on the northern side of the island, but there may be pockets that see as much as 7 inches of rain, bringing the risk of flash flooding, DaSilva added.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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Doja threw it back to the decade of glitz, glamour, and Aqua Net with her performance look, which was dripping in the maximalism and flash of the era.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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New Jersey/Delaware: Tropical storm-force gusts are possible along the coast on Aug. 21, with breaking waves of 7 to 11 feet.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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Prepare for pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) and wind gusts of up to 50 mph.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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