cramp 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkramp How to pronounce cramp (audio)
Definition of crampnext
as in stitch
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle I was suddenly awakened by a cramp in my leg

Synonyms & Similar Words

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cramp

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult an antismoking ordinance that was seen as just another cramp on business by bar owners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cramp

3 of 3

verb

as in to impede
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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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 cramp
Noun
When play resumed Ollie Gordon II, who left the game with cramps in the third quarter, returned to the field. — Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026 Symptoms from their bites include muscle cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and more. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
Airlines in desperate search of profits are expanding roomy first- and business-class seating on flights while economy class continues to get more cramped. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 23 Sep. 2026 This week’s report includes several photos that show men in orange jumpsuits cramped in holding cells for more than 12 hours. — Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cramp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramp
  1. stitch
  2. obstacle
  3. impede
  4. contraction
  5. hurdle
  6. hinder
  7. spasm
  8. embarrassment
Noun
  • Levine praises a call from Israel’s president Levine was recovering Sunday from injuries that included what appeared to be stab wounds in her buttocks, which required stitches.
    — Cara Anna, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Levine was recovering Sunday from injuries that included what appeared to be stab wounds in her buttocks, which required stitches.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of stitch
Noun
  • Icy weather, snowstorms, obstructive foliage and rugged terrain along the wild Rockies were just some of the obstacles Ben Nickell and Anne Koski faced on a 10-year journey to climb the highest point in each of Idaho’s 44 counties.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Long before launch, the team faced obstacles that nearly thwarted the endeavor — chiefly, two rejections from NASA — before finally securing the green light for the $1 billion project under the New Frontiers Program in 2011.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • Past popes have written letters of resignation in case of a severe illness or medical emergency that impedes them from carrying out their duties.
    — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies and practices that facilitate violations of federal law or impede lawful federal operations, the department said.
    — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of impede
Noun
  • Potassium supports fluid balance and muscle contraction and is part of an eating pattern associated with healthy blood pressure.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Flex your calves often Weight-bearing physical activity of any sort supports blood flow in the legs because of how muscular contractions help the veins push blood toward the heart, Jimenez said.
    — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of contraction
Noun
  • Our main hurdle has always been convincing people to pay for a cinema ticket to watch two episodes of a series.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Most of the K-pop festivals that have been announced over the last few years never went ahead due to various logistical hurdles.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurdle
Verb
  • And warming temperatures are hindering their ability to perform essential functions.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Royce Moser, 18, is facing charges including murder, while his mother, 56-year-old Rachel Moser, is facing charges including hindering apprehension of a fugitive, according to court records.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of hinder
Noun
  • Sensitivity to noise, touch and emotional distress can set off muscle spasms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Witt dealt with back spasms and a knee sprain during the summer.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of spasm
Noun
  • What about art that makes one cringe with embarrassment at its existence?
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Chronicling the hyper-niche behaviors that define our online existence, Berlant describes the seemingly inescapable embarrassment of wasting one’s life away in an endless scroll.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassment

Phrases Containing cramp

Browse Nearby Words

cramming
cramp
cramped
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Cite this Entry

“Cramp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramp. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cramp

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cramp

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