cramped 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of crampednext
1
as in confined

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in constricted

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cramped

2 of 2

verb

past tense of cramp
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of having to constantly entertain guests at the summer cottage was really cramping my writing efforts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 cramped
Verb
Now council members and city staff are searching for answers on how to move forward with building a police headquarters to replace one officers say is too cramped and outdated. — Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024 The bus was cramped and the roads were bumpy. — Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cramped
  1. confined
  2. limited
  3. impeded
  4. restricted
  5. narrow
  6. obstructed
Adjective
  • The ship could be a ferry, a tug, or other coastal vessel traveling within a very confined area.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Jan. 2017
  • And a subway car is a confined space where there may be no easy way to escape danger.
    — James Barron, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of confined
Adjective
  • None other than Emma Corrin will take on the role of Elizabeth Bennet in the six-part limited series, which actors including Jennifer Ehle and Keira Knightley have perfected in the past.
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2025
  • McGrady was a series regular on Netflix’s hit limited series The Perfect Couple.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of limited
Verb
  • The provision was ratified in the late nineteen-eighties, but conservatives allied with the country’s agricultural lobby have long impeded its enforcement.
    — Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Poor governance and economic stewardship have impeded the region’s development and generated the grievances behind the Arab Spring.
    — Marwan Muasher, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of impeded
Adjective
  • If the Bruins re-sign their restricted free agents and leave their prospects in Providence, that gives them with four slots to fill.
    — Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • According to someone with direct knowledge, the Heat ideally would like to keep point guard Davion Mitchell, an impending restricted free agent who has thrived in a bench role recently after his February acquisition from Toronto.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of restricted
Adjective
  • The narrow five-game spread between the top and bottom performers illustrates the relative consistency in baseline predictive ability.
    — Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Any migrant can individually bring a claim, Harris argued, but only in Texas where they're being held, and only along narrower grounds.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of narrow
Verb
  • The status of the third remained unknown, but snow obstructed a full view of the nest.
    — Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Yoon apologized for his brief martial law decree, but later doubled down and defended the move, arguing the liberal party obstructed his political agenda.
    — Sophia Vento, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of obstructed

Browse Nearby Words

cramp
cramped
cramped one's style
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cramped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cramped. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on cramped

Nglish: Translation of cramped for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All