as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
having to constantly entertain guests at the summer cottage was really cramping my writing efforts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in confined
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in constricted
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 cramped
Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024
The bus was cramped and the roads were bumpy.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
In this kitchen, designer Michelle Gage wanted the space to feel cozy but not cramped.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2024
Otherwise, the space can feel cramped.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024
Headroom will be fine for taller people, but the rear is somewhat cramped for adults with longer legs.
—James Morris, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
The recruitment success enjoyed by Tako and its peers speaks to a growing remote work fatigue, particularly in San Francisco, where housing conditions are often cramped and where a high concentration of young, ambitious techies are eager to comingle.
—Salvador Rodriguez, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
Especially in cramped, confined seating on a metal tube thousands of meters up.
—Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 2 Dec. 2024
Because of its size and cramped lay-out the crush of tourists in Venice is worst of all, not least because of the disgorging of thousands of passengers from cruise ships that dwarf the landscape.
—John Mariani, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Now council members and city staff are searching for answers on how to move forward with building a police headquarters to replace one officers say is too cramped and outdated.
—Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024
The bus was cramped and the roads were bumpy.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
In this kitchen, designer Michelle Gage wanted the space to feel cozy but not cramped.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2024
Otherwise, the space can feel cramped.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024
Headroom will be fine for taller people, but the rear is somewhat cramped for adults with longer legs.
—James Morris, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
The recruitment success enjoyed by Tako and its peers speaks to a growing remote work fatigue, particularly in San Francisco, where housing conditions are often cramped and where a high concentration of young, ambitious techies are eager to comingle.
—Salvador Rodriguez, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
Especially in cramped, confined seating on a metal tube thousands of meters up.
—Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 2 Dec. 2024
Because of its size and cramped lay-out the crush of tourists in Venice is worst of all, not least because of the disgorging of thousands of passengers from cruise ships that dwarf the landscape.
—John Mariani, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramped
Adjective
-
The ship could be a ferry, a tug, or other coastal vessel traveling within a very confined area.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
28 Jan. 2017
-
And a subway car is a confined space where there may be no easy way to escape danger.—
James Barron,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The provision was ratified in the late nineteen-eighties, but conservatives allied with the country’s agricultural lobby have long impeded its enforcement.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Poor governance and economic stewardship have impeded the region’s development and generated the grievances behind the Arab Spring.—
Marwan Muasher,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Typically support is limited, either by a sole that’s too rigid to go flat, a sole that’s too flexible for a safe heel, or a mechanism that lacks the ability to swap the heels.—
Yola Robert,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Space inside is limited, and this will likely be a very popular spot at Magic Kingdom.—
Megan duBois,
Southern Living,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
This was the fourth restricted airspace violation of the day and not the last.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
6 July 2025
-
This is a difficult market for restricted free agents.—
Anthony Slater,
New York Times,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
The 2026 battle for the Senate Republicans currently control the U.S. Senate 53-47, a narrow majority that has nonetheless helped shepherd GOP priorities through Congress along party lines.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
-
Because the vehicle is so narrow, and because it would be classed as a motorcycle in most markets, Scholten envisions it being used to beat traffic congestion via lane-splitting (traveling between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic moving in the same direction).—
Ben Coxworth
July 11,
New Atlas,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
The status of the third remained unknown, but snow obstructed a full view of the nest.—
Amanda Kooser,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Yoon apologized for his brief martial law decree, but later doubled down and defended the move, arguing the liberal party obstructed his political agenda.—
Sophia Vento,
The Hill,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cramped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramped. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share