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
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
The Texas Rangers are looking to close out their series with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday with their third straight win, but will do so without third baseman Josh Jung, who is headed to the 10-day injury list with neck spasms.
—
Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2025
Other symptoms may include dizziness, neck muscle spasms, and, in rare cases, numbness or weakness in the limbs.3
When an infection or allergy is the cause, a stiff neck and sore throat are often accompanied by other symptoms.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 17 Mar. 2025
How can Ghosts continue, if not to send us into spasms of offense, then still to electrify and unnerve, to shock not our delicate constitutions but our consciences, which, after all, was its intention all along?
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
Symptoms can include arrhythmias, uncontrollable muscle spasms and shock.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
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Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2025
Other symptoms may include dizziness, neck muscle spasms, and, in rare cases, numbness or weakness in the limbs.3
When an infection or allergy is the cause, a stiff neck and sore throat are often accompanied by other symptoms.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 17 Mar. 2025
How can Ghosts continue, if not to send us into spasms of offense, then still to electrify and unnerve, to shock not our delicate constitutions but our consciences, which, after all, was its intention all along?
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
Symptoms can include arrhythmias, uncontrollable muscle spasms and shock.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spasm. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spasm
noun1
: 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
noun1
: 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
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