1
as in cramps
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle
he suffers terribly from back spasms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in bursts
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 spasms
Reid said right guard Trey Smith would miss the day’s session due to back spasms.
—
Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
On Tuesday evening, the team updated the injury status of All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards, listing him as questionable to take the court with back spasms.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Edwards was healthy throughout the team’s training camp, but popped up as questionable on Minnesota’s injury report Tuesday with back spasms.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Threw five gutsy innings in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series after overcoming painful spasms in his neck and upper right trapezius.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Wright said Ad Land’s contribution to paying off the annual rights bill has been remarkably consistent over the last 10 years, holding steady at around that 50% mark despite a range of marketplace disruptions and various spasms at the macroeconomic level.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Ask your doctor about over-the-counter or prescription medication options to help manage pain and spasms.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 14 Oct. 2025
These faulty proteins accumulate in a deep brain structure called the striatum and cause symptoms such as uncontrollable movements, muscle spasms and cognitive decline that worsen over time.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2025
Given the Normans’ brutal treatment of the English and their subsequent expansion across the Mediterranean, there are undeniable parallels between 1066 and later spasms of European expansionism.
—Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
On Tuesday evening, the team updated the injury status of All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards, listing him as questionable to take the court with back spasms.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Edwards was healthy throughout the team’s training camp, but popped up as questionable on Minnesota’s injury report Tuesday with back spasms.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Threw five gutsy innings in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series after overcoming painful spasms in his neck and upper right trapezius.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Wright said Ad Land’s contribution to paying off the annual rights bill has been remarkably consistent over the last 10 years, holding steady at around that 50% mark despite a range of marketplace disruptions and various spasms at the macroeconomic level.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Ask your doctor about over-the-counter or prescription medication options to help manage pain and spasms.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 14 Oct. 2025
These faulty proteins accumulate in a deep brain structure called the striatum and cause symptoms such as uncontrollable movements, muscle spasms and cognitive decline that worsen over time.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2025
Given the Normans’ brutal treatment of the English and their subsequent expansion across the Mediterranean, there are undeniable parallels between 1066 and later spasms of European expansionism.
—Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasms
Noun
-
Herman, who left the game for two plays with cramps, scored on a 43-yard run, sweeping to the right end and scoring untouched, The final LCC score came on a 40-yard interception return by Ethan Polloreno.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Jackson played 16 minutes the final half, running the show with freshman sensation Darryn Peterson (26 points, five steals, two assists, six turnovers, four rebounds) playing just 10 of the final 20 minutes because of cramps.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Even the vets warned that such bursts of energy sometimes signal a final surge before decline, but Luna proved them wrong.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Beyond this, annual flowers such as petunias, marigolds, and zinnias can be used to add bursts of color throughout your beds and borders.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For the rest of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century, magnetic storms, triggered by colossal solar explosions, repeatedly disrupted those networks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
While tectonic activity is the leading cause, earthquakes can also result from volcanic eruptions, underground explosions, and human activities like mining or large-scale construction.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Davidson’s condition, which leads him to make foul-mouthed outbursts, was barely understood at the time and was the source of misunderstandings, bullying, and harassment.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Giudice’s mother famously flipped a table at a restaurant in season one of and was known for her outbursts.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While tectonic activity is the leading cause, earthquakes can also result from volcanic eruptions, underground explosions, and human activities like mining or large-scale construction.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
To prepare for the inevitable, ESA is expanding its monitoring network and preparing for the 2031 Vigil mission — a new spacecraft that will sit at the sun-Earth L5 point to give earlier warnings of incoming solar eruptions.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Las Vegas has shown flashes of brilliance in its five losses, but the team has not looked like the playoff-caliber squad that was expected with Caroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly being brought in.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Sure, there were flashes of streetwear embroidered with palm trees.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And the autumn Paris weather played nice — just a few gusts knocking down some lamps and a few showers prompting umbrellas to save our gear!—
Greg Palkot,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Sierra ridge gusts up to 100 mph.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spasms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasms. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share