1
as in cramp
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle
he suffers terribly from back spasms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
The Magic later reported on social media that Suggs would not return to the game due to back spasms.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
Dion received the diagnosis in 2022 and later had to cancel her world tour due to muscle spasms and rigidity.
—Fred Topel, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2024
Then, Sabathia arrived in New York before the 2009 season as the jewel of a $423 million offseason, a spasm of Steinbrenner-esque spending that represented the franchise’s desperation to end a nine-year title drought.
—Eno Sarris, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Cramps and muscle spasms visit me like Verizon bills.
—John McPhee, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spasm 
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
Dion received the diagnosis in 2022 and later had to cancel her world tour due to muscle spasms and rigidity.
—Fred Topel, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2024
Then, Sabathia arrived in New York before the 2009 season as the jewel of a $423 million offseason, a spasm of Steinbrenner-esque spending that represented the franchise’s desperation to end a nine-year title drought.
—Eno Sarris, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Cramps and muscle spasms visit me like Verizon bills.
—John McPhee, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm
Noun
-
Colorectal Cancer Symptoms The common symptoms are changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation, bright red rectal bleeding, dark blood in stool, cramps, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Sinner’s health concerns and cramps could open the door a little for Zverev, a monster athlete who only played 81 minutes of his semifinal against Djokovic before his retirement.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
But over eight half-hour episodes (including a finale that’s twice that length), those momentary bursts of magic feel all too fleeting.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2025
-
That was no problem for Netflix as Back in Action wasn't just filmed at Pinewood but action sequences were also shot on London's river Thames and at its barrier which prevents the city from flooding and bursts open in the film.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
That 17-point explosion in the fourth quarter was the on-court highlight.—
William Guillory,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
-
While the fiery explosion is enough to make Emily and Matt believe that Chuck is dead, her ex-boyfriend and fellow agent Baron (Scott) believes otherwise.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Page Six reported that the 58-year-old television chef had an outburst on Thursday, January 16, while shopping at Eataly NYC Downtown.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
-
There have been more signs of progress over the last two weeks — Edwards scored 41 points thanks to a fourth-quarter outburst Monday in Washington — but consistency has yet to be achieved.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Most associate Vesuvius with the 79 CE eruption that encased Pompeii in ash, preserving it for eternity.—
Francesca Aton,
ARTnews.com,
28 Jan. 2025
-
In the days following the eruption of the Los Angeles fires, children called and texted their instructors at Jigsaw to make sure their favorite horses were doing okay.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Law enforcement used tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the demonstrators just before Trump was set to deliver remarks from the Rose Garden.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Playing out of position at right-back, and ably supported by industrious Jesper Lindstrom — who, out of possession, often dropped back into the defence to make a five-strong line — O’Brien showed flashes of the promise that persuaded the club to sign him for £17million ($21.6m).—
Greg O'Keeffe,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The Wind Advisory The NWS forecasts sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
-
On top of that, the powerful Santa Ana winds brought gusts above 80 miles per hour.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near spasm
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share