1
as in confined
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2
as in constricted
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as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
having to constantly entertain guests at the summer cottage was really cramping my writing efforts
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Recent Examples of cramped
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Potterheads across the globe will instantly recognize Harry’s not-so-homely house on Privet Drive, his cramped excuse of a bedroom and the endless disdain oozing from the young wizard’s unloving aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley.
—Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Poor Space Planning Awkward door swings, insufficient clearance, poor storage options, or improper placement of vanities and toilets make any bathroom feel cramped and inconvenient.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 9 Mar. 2026
Cue the aforementioned wedding, lavish but hastily put together, and a sudden, drastic change in lifestyle, as she and Junyang are forced to live under the same roof as Boon Kiat and Bee Hwa, a cramped and fractious arrangement even before the baby’s arrival.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
Avoid large pieces that clutter the space and block pathways to other rooms or the front door, as these can make the room feel cramped and less inviting.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
Animals were found in cramped cages amid feces, piles of trash trash and the remains of other animals.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Lopatin and Safdie spent around four months in the summer and fall of 2025 working on the score in a cramped midtown studio.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
As a New Yorker herself, Bellizzi treasured envisioning the cramped Lower East Side milieu that opens the film.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2025
Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2026
Sleeping in the back of the truck also meant sacrificing storage space, and things got especially cramped when my wife joined me.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 20 Mar. 2026
The urgency element, combined with thin profit margins, long hours and generally hot, cramped working environments with fire and knives can create dangerous situations.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Families might feel cramped, but hey, Junior can always sleep on the comfortable couch.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
Same story with a lot of our old tech that felt too slow, too cramped, or just plain dull.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
For travelers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, cramped gate-side lounges could soon be a thing of the past.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
If your kitchen is too cramped for cookbooks, get creative.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
The trade cramped their spacing and closed up driving lanes for Edwards.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The defendants’ family members jockeyed for spots in the cramped space.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Potterheads across the globe will instantly recognize Harry’s not-so-homely house on Privet Drive, his cramped excuse of a bedroom and the endless disdain oozing from the young wizard’s unloving aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley.
—Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Poor Space Planning Awkward door swings, insufficient clearance, poor storage options, or improper placement of vanities and toilets make any bathroom feel cramped and inconvenient.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 9 Mar. 2026
Cue the aforementioned wedding, lavish but hastily put together, and a sudden, drastic change in lifestyle, as she and Junyang are forced to live under the same roof as Boon Kiat and Bee Hwa, a cramped and fractious arrangement even before the baby’s arrival.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
Avoid large pieces that clutter the space and block pathways to other rooms or the front door, as these can make the room feel cramped and less inviting.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
Animals were found in cramped cages amid feces, piles of trash trash and the remains of other animals.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Lopatin and Safdie spent around four months in the summer and fall of 2025 working on the score in a cramped midtown studio.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
As a New Yorker herself, Bellizzi treasured envisioning the cramped Lower East Side milieu that opens the film.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
Hahn writes that the Tidal Basin is cramped, overly popular with tourists and others who come to take photos, and sometimes flooded.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2026
Sleeping in the back of the truck also meant sacrificing storage space, and things got especially cramped when my wife joined me.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 20 Mar. 2026
The urgency element, combined with thin profit margins, long hours and generally hot, cramped working environments with fire and knives can create dangerous situations.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Families might feel cramped, but hey, Junior can always sleep on the comfortable couch.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
Same story with a lot of our old tech that felt too slow, too cramped, or just plain dull.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
For travelers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, cramped gate-side lounges could soon be a thing of the past.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
If your kitchen is too cramped for cookbooks, get creative.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
The trade cramped their spacing and closed up driving lanes for Edwards.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramped
Adjective
-
Diners are there to enjoy a nice, relaxing meal, but some dogs, especially very large dogs or multiple dogs, can be a handful in small, confined spaces.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
-
And some experts worry that as measles continues to appear in confined environments—such as, recently, an ICE facility in Texas—adequate infection-prevention measures will too frequently fall short.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Vertical living green walls comprised of live plants are a natural energy-saving method for improving indoor air quality and enhancing interior design, but they're hampered by inconsistent performance.—
Shirl Leigh
April 03,
New Atlas,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Even if companies wanted to spend irresponsible amounts of money on AI compute, they’ve been hampered by supply chain constraints.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For example, Vermont legislators have introduced legislation requiring that tech products used in school be registered and certified with the Secretary of State to prove limited data collection and the absence of addictive algorithms.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The City of Miami granted Nu Stadium a limited event permit, which is limited to that day, with specific hours, restrictions and additional precautions.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At other events, RAM's compassion is impeded by red tape.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Beyond the Cal/OSHA investigation, which has not previously been detailed publicly, attorneys for the state allege the Sheriff’s Department has impeded the workplace safety inquiry and refused to hand over vital documents, according to court filings in an ongoing dispute between the two agencies.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The aircraft, assigned to Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, went down within the restricted military training complex north of the city.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The trio then proceeded past a restricted door without authorization, the affidavit shows, and boarded the plane.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Noem's contract review policy disproportionately hindered FEMA, which awards massive contracts and funds disaster aid projects that frequently exceed $100,000.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Mar. 2026
-
However, a budget managed by Congress with limited long-term visibility, coupled with a slow contracting process hindered by bureaucracy, creates some roadblocks.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One stretch of narrow country road leading north out of the town of Clones in the Republic, for example, goes through Northern Ireland for some yards before reverting to the Republic.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
That's because the radio waves are emanating over a wider range of directions rather than just in a narrow cone from the poles.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bruce Jay Parker had always been quirky, in ways that generally delighted his friends and acquaintances, and frequently embarrassed his wife and two daughters.—
Ashley Parker,
The Atlantic,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Yankees embarrassed the San Francisco Giants on the road to begin the 2026 MLB season.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cramped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramped. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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