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 injury was concerning given Hart endured a bout with lower back spasms during the Knicks’ preseason opener in Abu Dhabi in October.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
This includes patients who experience nausea and pain while undergoing cancer treatments, multiple sclerosis patients with severe muscle spasm and stiffness, and chronic pain patients who strive to find relief without using opioids.
—Carey S. Cadieux, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026
Neck spasms kept her out for all but the first four games of 2023-24, and she wasn’t cleared to return to the court until late February 2025.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Common therapies and treatments include Botox injections, which block nerve signals that cause spasms; voice therapy, which is often paired with Botox; and surgical options.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spasm
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Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
This includes patients who experience nausea and pain while undergoing cancer treatments, multiple sclerosis patients with severe muscle spasm and stiffness, and chronic pain patients who strive to find relief without using opioids.
—Carey S. Cadieux, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026
Neck spasms kept her out for all but the first four games of 2023-24, and she wasn’t cleared to return to the court until late February 2025.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Common therapies and treatments include Botox injections, which block nerve signals that cause spasms; voice therapy, which is often paired with Botox; and surgical options.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spasm
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spasm. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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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