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
These faulty proteins accumulate in a deep brain structure called the striatum and cause symptoms such as uncontrollable movements, muscle spasms and cognitive decline that worsen over time.
—
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2025
Given the Normans’ brutal treatment of the English and their subsequent expansion across the Mediterranean, there are undeniable parallels between 1066 and later spasms of European expansionism.
—Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
The blooms may produce toxic substances that could result in headaches, weakness, shortness of breath, muscle spasms and gastrointestinal illnesses, officials said.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2025
On the other side of the world, as the Kirk story preoccupied Americans, Nepal reeled from a spasm of violence that erupted when the government tried to ban social media platforms.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2025
Given the Normans’ brutal treatment of the English and their subsequent expansion across the Mediterranean, there are undeniable parallels between 1066 and later spasms of European expansionism.
—Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
The blooms may produce toxic substances that could result in headaches, weakness, shortness of breath, muscle spasms and gastrointestinal illnesses, officials said.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2025
On the other side of the world, as the Kirk story preoccupied Americans, Nepal reeled from a spasm of violence that erupted when the government tried to ban social media platforms.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spasm
Noun
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Like regular depression, SAD can cause negative feelings like hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, and guilt; fatigue or reduced energy; a loss of interest in hobbies and activities; and even physical aches and pains (including headaches, cramps, and digestive problems).—
Maggie O'Neill,
SELF,
20 Oct. 2025
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Typical symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Soon there was a burst of flame, which appeared to spread from the cab and shot out several feet from the driver's side of the truck.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
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Halfmann's team knew this process takes a burst of energy.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This frustration has fueled the explosion of AI headshot tools like InstaHeadshots, PhotoPacksAI, HeadshotPro and Aragon AI, services that promise a professional image in minutes starting at under $50.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
18 Oct. 2025
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This Isn’t Kittle’s Game Everyone sees that George Kittle is back and expects a fantasy football explosion.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Los Alamitos’ outburst also included a 74-yard touchdown reception by Boise State committed tight end Beckham Hofland from Colin Creason.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
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Still, an offensive outburst from Ohtani would be a welcome sight.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And finally, there’s the eruption of the massive youth protest movement in late 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for refusing to wear a hijab.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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Geologists believe that the primary trigger was climatic and ocean changes related to large-scale volcanic eruptions in what is today Siberia, Russia.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Money earned from these collectibles, as well as from flash book sales, enable the Friends group to provide various programs for children and adults, fund author visits, purchase equipment and supply raffle prizes for children’s reading programs and refreshments for monthly book discussions.—
Sharon Hlapcich,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
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And the exposure to bright artificial flashes of light, even for milliseconds, can not only disrupt human circadian rhythms, leading to less and lower-quality sleep, but has also been linked to certain types of cancers in humans.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the Nomads is not a lightweight, so the cutoff can feel a bit brutal – akin to being hit by a sudden gust of wind.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Oct. 2025
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Jamaica will also likely see the strongest winds, with forecasts anticipating gusts between 80 and 100 mph that could batter the island from Thursday through Tuesday.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spasm. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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