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
Esophageal spasms: These abnormal contractions of the esophageal muscles can be painful and may cause food to get stuck in the esophagus or stomach liquid to come back up.
—
Laura Schober, Health, 12 Oct. 2024
The spasm of gun violence erupted just days after a mass shooting left four people dead and nine others hospitalized at a high school in Winder, Georgia — and less than a week after a half-dozen people driving on an interstate in the Seattle area were injured by a spree shooter.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2024
The nation has seen spasms of political violence throughout its history.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Bezos' decision caused an unprecedented spasm of anger both within journalism and outside it.
—CBS News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spasm 
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Laura Schober, Health, 12 Oct. 2024
The spasm of gun violence erupted just days after a mass shooting left four people dead and nine others hospitalized at a high school in Winder, Georgia — and less than a week after a half-dozen people driving on an interstate in the Seattle area were injured by a spree shooter.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2024
The nation has seen spasms of political violence throughout its history.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Bezos' decision caused an unprecedented spasm of anger both within journalism and outside it.
—CBS News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spasm
Dictionary Entries Near spasm
Cite this Entry
“Spasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spasm. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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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