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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a disease that causes muscle spasms He was racked with coughing spasms. She was suffering spasms of guilt.
Recent Examples on the Web Patients have inflamed airways prone to being hyperactive, and the airways spasm in response to a patient’s sensitivities to certain triggers, such as dust, pests and pets. 
Talis Shelbourne, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2022 Odd smells, like earth or rotting matter, that nobody else could perceive, or a spasm of tremors and pain at the precise moment when disaster struck far away. Ian Beacock, The New Republic, 25 Aug. 2022 So, for example, a spoon full of sugar, which is a popular home remedy, the experts say that the sugar kind of irritates the back of your throat, which interrupts the spasm. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 Daily life had become an anxiety-ridden obstacle course of avoiding the most innocuous tasks that might trigger a spasm. Jesse Hicks, Men's Health, 25 July 2022 Peralta exited with one out in the eighth due to a left hamstring spasm. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 6 July 2022 The spasm tensing in San Francisco could be an early flare for criminal-justice focused policymakers from both parties. Philip Elliott, Time, 7 June 2022 The other is due to bronchospasm, which happens when the muscles lining the airways in the lungs spasm and constrict, Dr. Elliott says. Sara Gaynes Levy, SELF, 31 May 2022 Most people have had hiccups, an involuntary spasm of the muscles of breathing. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 1 Apr. 2022 See More
Talis Shelbourne, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2022 Odd smells, like earth or rotting matter, that nobody else could perceive, or a spasm of tremors and pain at the precise moment when disaster struck far away. Ian Beacock, The New Republic, 25 Aug. 2022 So, for example, a spoon full of sugar, which is a popular home remedy, the experts say that the sugar kind of irritates the back of your throat, which interrupts the spasm. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 Daily life had become an anxiety-ridden obstacle course of avoiding the most innocuous tasks that might trigger a spasm. Jesse Hicks, Men's Health, 25 July 2022 Peralta exited with one out in the eighth due to a left hamstring spasm. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 6 July 2022 The spasm tensing in San Francisco could be an early flare for criminal-justice focused policymakers from both parties. Philip Elliott, Time, 7 June 2022 The other is due to bronchospasm, which happens when the muscles lining the airways in the lungs spasm and constrict, Dr. Elliott says. Sara Gaynes Levy, SELF, 31 May 2022 Most people have had hiccups, an involuntary spasm of the muscles of breathing. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 1 Apr. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
spasm
noun
ˈspa-zəm
1
: a sudden uncontrolled and often painful tightening of muscles
back spasms
2
: a sudden, strong, and temporary effort, emotion, or outburst
a spasm of coughing
a spasm of guilt
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
spasms
noun
1
as in cramps
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle he suffers terribly from back spasms Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cramps
- contractions
- stitches
- kinks
- twitches
- pangs
- cricks
- jerks
- twinges
- charley horses
2
as in bursts
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a spasm of love that he had never experienced before Synonyms & Similar Words
- bursts
- explosions
- outbursts
- eruptions
- flashes
- paroxysms
- gusts
- flares
- gales
- flushes
- agonies
- blazes
- ebullitions
- storms
- frenzies
- fits
- gushes
- flare-ups
- rages
- tantrums
- deliriums
- ecstasies
- raptures
- blowups
- transports
- firestorms
- grouches
- furors