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
Powell previously had been listed as questionable due to back spasms, prior to being listed as out due to illness.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
In 2016, Brooks could not even conceive of the spasms and breaches of etiquette that Trumpism would produce on an almost daily basis.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
In 2022, the Canadian singer-songwriter shared she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause muscle spasms.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Earlier this year, a lower back muscle spasm from a workout forced him to withdraw from The Arnold Palmer Invitational and raised concerns over his participating in The Players Championship.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
In 2016, Brooks could not even conceive of the spasms and breaches of etiquette that Trumpism would produce on an almost daily basis.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
In 2022, the Canadian singer-songwriter shared she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause muscle spasms.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Earlier this year, a lower back muscle spasm from a workout forced him to withdraw from The Arnold Palmer Invitational and raised concerns over his participating in The Players Championship.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm
Noun
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Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
9 Apr. 2026
-
People often feel tired first, before experiencing intense kidney pain, severe sweating and vomiting, full body cramps and spasms and a fierce sense of doom.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The greatest threat will be the possibility of large hail and some strong bursts of wind.—
Chris Shaffer,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Some start with an initial burst of attention, followed by years of uncertainty as leads dry up and interest fades.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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According to the documents, Chee paid his other employees in cash — including those who later died in the explosion.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The warmth that is the CinemaScope explosion of every emotion all at once.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In real life, Natalie is detached from her children and disdainful of her spouse, prone to violent outbursts as the farm spins out of her control.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Geekie had only one goal in the previous 20 games, but his scoring outburst on Tuesday pushed his season total to a career-best 37.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Across the jagged volcanic landscape of spontaneous eruptions and tumbling detritus, a space of relative calm will invariably open up.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
13 Apr. 2026
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Geomagnetic storms, on the other hand, are caused by the impact of rapid streams of plasma on Earth's magnetic field, most dramatic during violent eruptions of plasma (coronal mass ejections) from the sun.—
Ryan French,
Space.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Signaling growth worries, HSBC flash Purchasing Managers' Index compiled by S&P Global showed that India's private sector activity in March slowed to its lowest level since October 2022.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Witnesses reported seeing snipers positioned on rooftops in the area and hearing multiple flash bangs, along with commands from deputies ordering the suspect to come out.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Just around the corner, strong gusts tore shingles from a home, leaving them strewn across the yard.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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