1
as in squeezing
to fit (people or things) into a tight space
tried to cram one more book into the backpack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in filling
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained
crammed his mouth with candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gorging
to fill with food to capacity
one of those eating contests in which competitors attempt to cram themselves with as many hot dogs as they can in three minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in inhaling
to swallow or eat greedily
the thoughtless guest crammed a dinner that had taken hours to prepare
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 cramming
This is an impressive chip, cramming nearly 100 billion transistors onto a piece of silicon roughly the size of a fingernail.
—
John Koetsier,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
The trip took 76 days, with van Dongen splitting time between hours on his bike and cramming into an RV in parks and towns around the country.
—
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
In recent weeks, NGOs helping the workers say the Cambodian authorities have stepped up detention of migrants for visa violations, cramming them in overcrowded detention facilities.
—
Shibani Mahtani,
NPR,
21 June 2026
At their core, Rush were always about glorious musical excess, routinely cramming more riffs and time signatures into single songs than some bands managed on entire albums.
—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 June 2026
The two stayed up late into the night Monday, cramming information on each candidate.
—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
That’s cramming too many homes on limited acreage, especially in an area where traffic is already dangerous because of so many new developments, two neighbors told the board to applause from the Town Hall audience.
—
Joe Marusak
may 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
Clark agreed with Reinhart’s observations, but warned that the four-day workweek wasn’t so much as cramming a 40-hour week into four days as a genuine reduction to 32 hours, one that respected an employee’s life outside of work.
—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
But the line is shifting towards the Mediterranean Sea, cramming Gaza’s population into a shrinking strip of land.
—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
John Koetsier,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
The trip took 76 days, with van Dongen splitting time between hours on his bike and cramming into an RV in parks and towns around the country.
—
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
In recent weeks, NGOs helping the workers say the Cambodian authorities have stepped up detention of migrants for visa violations, cramming them in overcrowded detention facilities.
—
Shibani Mahtani,
NPR,
21 June 2026
At their core, Rush were always about glorious musical excess, routinely cramming more riffs and time signatures into single songs than some bands managed on entire albums.
—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 June 2026
The two stayed up late into the night Monday, cramming information on each candidate.
—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
That’s cramming too many homes on limited acreage, especially in an area where traffic is already dangerous because of so many new developments, two neighbors told the board to applause from the Town Hall audience.
—
Joe Marusak
may 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
Clark agreed with Reinhart’s observations, but warned that the four-day workweek wasn’t so much as cramming a 40-hour week into four days as a genuine reduction to 32 hours, one that respected an employee’s life outside of work.
—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
But the line is shifting towards the Mediterranean Sea, cramming Gaza’s population into a shrinking strip of land.
—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramming
Verb
-
Of course, attempts to get more revenue out of taxpayers would carry political risks, but voters have been open to squeezing the wealthy.
-
Coach Spencer Carbery has done a masterful job of both squeezing what’s left out of the franchise’s best-ever player — Ovechkin led the Caps in both goals (32) and points (64) in 2025-26 — while simultaneously masking the deficiencies that come with age.
Verb
-
Soccer fans have already been filling seats at new businesses like El Tesoro, the Irish Exit, Glide Pizza and the immersive entertainment destination Cosm.
-
After two devastating quakes, first responders were fishermen, doctors and emigres returning from abroad — a grassroots campaign filling a government void.
Verb
-
But gorging on pollen alone wasn’t enough to lengthen a life.
-
With the third season of ‘The Vampire Lestat’–AMC’s series adaptation of Anne Rice’s iconic vampire novels of the same name–underway, viewers are once again gorging on a visual feast thanks to costume designer Lex Wood.
Verb
-
Typically, hantavirus spreads by inhaling particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of wild rodents.
-
Take 30 to 40 deep cyclical breaths, inhaling fully into the belly and chest, exhaling without force.
Verb
-
In 1976, Miami Marine Stadium’s bicentennial fireworks show drew a causeway-jamming capacity crowd of 15,000 while a downtown Miami parade attracted about 5,000 people.
-
Russia responded by outfitting the glide bombs with Kometa satellite navigation modules that are more resistant to jamming.
Verb
-
Alysa Guffey More than 50 people gathered in 90-degree heat to protest welcoming data centers to Indianapolis before packing the public assembly room on the second floor of the City-County Building.
-
Not as messy as chicken wings but packing the same flavorful punch, buffalo chicken dip is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.
Verb
-
There’s a snake devouring a frog whole.
-
This squishy honor of a marshmallow doesn’t even require devouring it—the indicator that psychologists took as the signal of its depleted future life.
Verb
-
Cihlar recommends beginners avoid loading up too soon, while men who are already regularly active and lift weights can typically handle a 20- or 30-pound plate from the start.
-
How to Start Rucking Safely Experts recommend conditioning the body before loading up a pack, especially for men over 40 returning to exercise.
Cite this Entry
“Cramming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramming. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
