1
as in cramp
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle
he suffers terribly from back spasms
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in burst
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a spasm of love that he had never experienced before
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spasm
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, spasmodic dysphonia causes involuntary spasms in the muscles of the voice box or larynx.
—
Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Then stage two involves jerking movement, spasms, loss of vision, dementia, and seizures.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2025
Under Nézet-Séguin, the musicians do the job spectacularly, releasing all those bilious harmonies and seething rhythms in an unbroken two-hour spasm of excitement.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
Irish physician William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, after observing its medicinal use in India, introduced cannabis to Western medicine in 1842, advocating its efficacy in alleviating pain and muscle spasms.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Then stage two involves jerking movement, spasms, loss of vision, dementia, and seizures.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2025
Under Nézet-Séguin, the musicians do the job spectacularly, releasing all those bilious harmonies and seething rhythms in an unbroken two-hour spasm of excitement.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
Irish physician William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, after observing its medicinal use in India, introduced cannabis to Western medicine in 1842, advocating its efficacy in alleviating pain and muscle spasms.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm
Noun
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Symptoms of salmonella infection – including diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps – typically arise six hours to six days after exposure and may last 4 to 7 days.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
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If consumed, the cucumber slices could trigger symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Then, just before the neutron star is consumed by the black hole, these waves turn into a powerful blast, emitting a burst of radio waves known as a fast radio burst (FRB).—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
5 June 2025
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Several videos shared on TikTok by Khalifa show groups of Palestinians lying flat on the ground and taking cover from ongoing bursts of automatic gunfire.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
4 June 2025
Noun
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So these quests march on even as the crack of explosions grows louder.—
Carole V. Bell,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
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Since March, the southeast crater showed signs of activity with smaller explosions and moderate lava flows.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Noun
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The outburst comes just days after Trump and Musk appeared together for a chummy White House news conference billed as a friendly sendoff for the latter.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
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Brandon Novy capped the 10-run outburst with an inside-the-park home run.—
Compiled From Wire Reports,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 June 2025
Noun
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During Mount Etna’s recent eruption, however, the flow was contained within the region’s Lion Valley, per the AP.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 June 2025
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More recently, Mount Etna has been active in the past few months, with this eruption being the 14th episode since March 2025 after a 19-day lull.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Bursts of orange flash under a half dozen columns of black smoke billowing just beyond a freeway where traffic continues as usual.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
13 June 2025
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The protests against the Trump administration’s immigration raids in Los Angeles have featured flashes of violence, with protesters setting driverless cars on fire and officers responding to crowds with tear gas and rubber bullets.—
Story Hinckley,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Wind gusts of up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch) are expected.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2025
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Wind gusts of up to 55 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are anticipated.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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