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as in cramp
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle he suffers terribly from back spasms

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Hence, the spasms of anticipatory body language in the stands before the 25-year-old guard sank the dagger: This is just what this team does. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 June 2025 When Herod enters, the music lurches between saccharine waltz episodes and spasms of Expressionistic anarchy—a fracturing of the lingua franca. Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 In the five years since the global shutdown that heralded the Covid-19 pandemic, the retail industry has weathered a once-in-a-generation evolutionary spasm which, like the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, has forced brands and companies to adapt or die. Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 According to the neurologist, Dr. Alier Marrero, the patients suffered hallucinations, spasms, rapid memory loss and the sensation that bugs were crawling underneath their skin, but their symptoms and brain scans didn’t neatly fit an existing diagnosis. Aria Bendix, NBC news, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for spasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm
Noun
  • If your child shows symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or cramps after taking the syrup, seek medical care immediately.
    Annabelle Canela, Parents, 20 June 2025
  • People who eat foods contaminated with these bacteria often experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever.
    Amanda Heidt, Scientific American, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Pride Month tends to arrive in a confetti burst of color.
    Sophia Bush, Time, 20 June 2025
  • In a burst of architectural brilliance, a pair of striking glass hallways connect the two wings of the main house, one spotlighting views of a cascading creek and the other lush landscaping.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • The explosion of betting options signals the next stage of growth for U.S. sports betting, shifting from wagers placed before a game to betting during a game.
    Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 15 June 2025
  • Photo taken after an explosion in downtown Tehran amid Israel's two-day campaign of strikes against Iran on June 15.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Noun
  • Elsewhere, beware of outbursts and shocking news in the first few days of the week.
    Kyle Thomas, People.com, 15 June 2025
  • For example, Musk dropped nearly $300 million on campaign spending for Donald Trump and other Republicans last year, only to blow up his relationship with the president a few months later with a series of outbursts on social media.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Volcanic activity is documented since the 17th century, with most eruptions limited to the smaller Lewotobi Laki-laki.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Intense enough to ionize Earth's upper atmosphere, the eruption caused a shortwave radio blackout centered over the Pacific Ocean.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Bursts of orange flash under a half dozen columns of black smoke billowing just beyond a freeway where traffic continues as usual.
    Karl Vick, Time, 13 June 2025
  • The extent of the damage is not clear, but footage circulating online on Thursday appears to show at least one bright flash and plumes of smoke at the site.
    Ellie Cook John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • The fire occurred on a breezy spring day, with strong gusts blowing from west to east, pushing flames and thick black smoke along the pier toward the shore.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
  • One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

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