spasm

noun

ˈspa-zəm 

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

Synonyms

• charley horse
• cramp
• crick
• kink

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

During four separate periods of his career, Langer famously suffered from the yips, involuntary muscle spasms which wreak havoc on a golfer’s ability to play the game. —Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025

The Texas Rangers activated third baseman Josh Jung off the 10-day injury list on Tuesday after the Texas Tech product had been sidelined with neck spasms. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2025

However, some beta-blockers can worsen symptoms of asthma or other lung conditions, as well as peripheral vascular disease (a condition that causes narrowing, blockage, or spasms in the blood vessel). —Karen Berger, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2025

This time, the opposing pitcher will be National League Cy Young winner Chris Sale, who was unavailable in October due to back spasms. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English spasme, from Anglo-French espasme, from Latin spasmus, from Greek spasmos, from span to draw, pull

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spasm

• bronchospasm
• cytoplasm
• ectoplasm
• neoplasm
• protoplasm
• vasospasm
• chasm
• plasm
• chiasm
• germplasm
• phantasm
• sarcasm

Kids Definition

spasm

noun

ˈspaz-əm 

1

: 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

noun

ˈspaz-əm 

1

: 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