cramp
6 synonyms and 5 antonyms for cramp, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A sudden, painful, involuntary tightening of a muscle.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A sudden, painful, involuntary tightening of a muscle.
“She got a cramp in her calf halfway through the run.”
How to use cramp
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
leg cramp
stomach cramp
cramp someone's style
Etymology
From Old French crampe, ultimately from a Frankish/Germanic word meaning "cramp" or "clasp" — distantly related to "crop".
Full origin of cramp →Frequently asked questions
What does “cramp” mean?
The word “cramp” means a sudden, painful, involuntary tightening of a muscle. In plain terms, a painful muscle spasm, or (as a verb) to restrict or hold something back.
How do you pronounce “cramp”?
“Cramp” is pronounced kramp (/kɹæmp/ in IPA).
How do you use “cramp” in a sentence?
Here is “cramp” used in a sentence: “She got a cramp in her calf halfway through the run.”
What part of speech is “cramp”?
Depending on how it is used, “cramp” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cramp” come from?
The word “cramp” comes from Old French. From Old French crampe, ultimately from a Frankish/Germanic word meaning "cramp" or "clasp" — distantly related to "crop".
Is “cramp” a common word?
“Cramp” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cramp” have?
“Cramp” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, painful, involuntary tightening of a muscle.
