1
: an involuntary and abnormal muscular contraction
2
: a sudden violent and temporary effort, emotion, or sensation
a spasm of creativity
spasms of pain
spasm
intransitive verb
Examples of spasm in a Sentence
a disease that causes muscle spasms
He was racked with coughing spasms.
She was suffering spasms of guilt.
Recent Examples on the Web
This can exaggerate the spasms in your blood vessels.
—
Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 6 Feb. 2025
Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttocks, spasms and irritates the nearby sciatic nerve.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 29 Jan. 2025
The condition is neurological, stemming from an area of the brain that causes spasms in the muscles of the voice box.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025
Frequent muscle spasms or trauma to the suboccipital muscles, like from whiplash after a car accident, can also cause strain and inflammation that results in pain at the base of the skull.6
4.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spasm 
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.
Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 6 Feb. 2025
Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttocks, spasms and irritates the nearby sciatic nerve.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 29 Jan. 2025
The condition is neurological, stemming from an area of the brain that causes spasms in the muscles of the voice box.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025
Frequent muscle spasms or trauma to the suboccipital muscles, like from whiplash after a car accident, can also cause strain and inflammation that results in pain at the base of the skull.6
4.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spasm
Dictionary Entries Near spasm
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spasm. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spasm
noun1
: a sudden uncontrolled contracting of muscles
back spasms
2
: a sudden violent and temporary effort, emotion, or outburst
a spasm of creativity
spasm
verb
Medical Definition
spasm
noun1
: an involuntary and abnormal contraction of muscle or muscle fibers or of a hollow organ (as an artery, the colon, or the esophagus) that consists largely of involuntary muscle fibers
2
: the state or condition of a muscle or organ affected with spasms
the renal artery went into spasm
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share