spasms

noun

plural of spasm
1
as in cramps
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle he suffers terribly from back spasms

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Despite Adrian Houser’s excellent start, the Giants lost 2-1 to the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon as shortstop Willy Adames exited the game early with back spasms. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 Despite the rout in high-flying memory stocks, the VIX stayed well under first-quarter lows and selling in the S&P 500 was contained to momentary spasms. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 At linebacker, Drue Tranquill remained out of practice because of back spasms, and Nick Bolton left early because of an illness. — Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026 Physical withdrawal symptoms can include muscle aches and spasms, gastrointestinal distress, including nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, sweating and fever. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Glasnow, on the verge of a rehab assignment, has been sidelined for nearly three months with back spasms, an injury the Dodgers initially hoped wouldn’t even need an IL stint. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 While three of those four are not pitching (Ohtani has a left knee issue, Snell is coming off elbow surgery and Glasnow missed months with back spasms), all three are expected to return before October. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 The whole thing lands closer to a murky inversion of early Return to Forever than the punk spasms of Naked City. — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasms
  1. cramps
  2. bursts
  3. explosions
  4. outbursts
  5. eruptions
  6. flashes
  7. gusts
Noun
  • Bananas contain potassium, which can help prevent muscle cramps that keep you up at night.
    — Carley Millhone, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Salmonella infection could result in diarrhea, nausea, headache and stomach cramps.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of cramps
Noun
  • Scientists are curious about the sun’s inner workings to better track massive bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that can hurl toward Earth.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The engines, adapted from those used in the company’s heavy machinery, mix pressurized hydrogen gas with air and ignite it to create bursts of power.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of bursts
Noun
  • Small explosions happen within the park every few years and generally present localized dangers.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this summer in Germany, evacuations were ordered in record-breaking heat after a wildfire triggered explosions in a nature reserve strewn with leftover ordnance from World War II.
    — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of explosions
Noun
  • The outbursts helped relieve some pressure, but Nakashima tightened up as the prospect of making his first Masters 1000 final neared.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The McKinney City Council voted late Wednesday night to approve a site plan for a new mosque after a marathon meeting marked by outbursts and hours of public comment.
    — Trevor Sochocki, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of outbursts
Noun
  • Consider the latest eruptions that happened within hours of each other a few days ago, when the league quickly rescinded a technical foul assessed to Clark that would have put her at the threshold for a suspension.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Since Yellowstone’s last caldera-forming event, the region has experienced approximately 80 comparatively nonexplosive eruptions, most of which produced lava flows.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of eruptions
Noun
  • One of these events is known as Baily’s Beads, when flashes of light shine through gaps along the moon’s uneven edge.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The officer, whose silver-and-gold watch flashes in the light, doesn’t seem intent on helping Pope.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of flashes
Noun
  • Severe weather cut power to nearly 1 million customers in the Midwest as perilous thunderstorms and extreme wind gusts pummeled the region Tuesday.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Severe weather cut power Tuesday in the Chicago area and northwestern Indiana as perilous storms pummeled the region, darkening the sky and carrying extreme wind gusts across state lines.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of gusts

Browse Nearby Words

spasmodic
spasms
spastic
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Cite this Entry

“Spasms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasms. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of spasms for Spanish Speakers

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