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
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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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The new secretary takes up his post at a time when traditional diplomacy often takes a back seat to Trump’s off-the cuff comments and social media outbursts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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That outburst from the Twins effectively chased lefty ace Garrett Crochet from the game.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
14 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
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Ford said persistently wet soil conditions across the state are limiting stormwater absorption, sending more runoff into major waterways such as the Des Plaines and Fox rivers and raising the likelihood of flash flooding.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
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Frozen Vegetables Frozen vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and flash-frozen, locking in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Wind gusts peaked at 88 mph Tuesday night local time on the island — with consistent wind gusts between 70 and 80 mph recorded through the night, according to the National Weather Service.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Easterly winds will blow at 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, according to NWS Melbourne.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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