I feel a sort of spasm in my left leg.
Source: tatoeba (3534204)
Spasm
/ˈspæz.m̩/
Synonyms for "spasm" (348 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (70)
Noun(5 words)
Suffix(1 words)
-ismus
abdominal epilepsyabscessaccessacheachingacquired epilepsyactivated epilepsyacute painadoaffect epilepsyagitationagueakinetic epilepsyamokanemiaankylosisanoxiaapneaapoplexyarrest
Show 44 more words
asphyxiationasthmaataxiaatrophyattackautonomic epilepsybackachebiteblazebleedingblennorheablockadeblockagebloodless revolutionblowboring painbotherbotherationbouleversementbreakdownbreakupbumpinessburstbustlecachexiacachexycardiac epilepsycataclysmcatastrophecharley horsechillchillschoreaclean slateclean sweepclimaxclonic spasmclonuscold shiverscoliccommotioncomputer revolutionconstipationconvulsion
Strong matches (104)
cortical epilepsycoughingcounterrevolutioncrampcrampscrickcursive epilepsycutcyanosiscyclonedarting paindebaclediarrheadiastrophismdisasterdistressdiurnal epilepsydizzinessdolordropsy
Show 75 more words
dysenterydyspepsiadyspneaearthquakeeclampsiaedemaemaciationepilepsiaepilepsia graviorepilepsia majorepilepsia minorepilepsia mitiorepilepsia nutansepilepsia tardaepilepsyepitasiseruptionexplosionfaintingfalling sicknessfatiguefeery-faryfermentfeverfibrillationfidgetinessfitfits and startsflapflare upflare-upflurryflusterflutterflutterinessfluxfocal epilepsyfrenzyfulgurant painfurorfuryfussfussinessgalegirdle paingnawinggrand malgriefgripgripinggrowthgusthaute malhemorrhagehigh blood pressurehitchhubbubhullabaloohurricanehurthydropshypertensionhypotensionhysterical epilepsyicterusictusindigestioninflammationinjuryinsomniairruptionitchingjacksonian epilepsyjactationjactitation
Adjective(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Related words (174)
jaundicejerkinessjoltinessjumpjumping painkinklabored breathinglancinating painlarval epilepsylaryngeal epilepsylaryngospasmlatent epilepsylesionlockjawlow blood pressurelumbagomaelstrommarasmusmatutinal epilepsymenstrual epilepsy
Show 140 more words
murderous insanitymusicogenic epilepsymyoclonous epilepsynasal dischargenasty blownauseanecrosisnipnocturnal epilepsyocclusionorgasmoutbreakoutburstoverthrowoverturnpainpalace revolutionpalsypangparalysisparoxysmpassionpetit malphysiologic epilepsypinchpotherprickprurituspsychic epilepsypsychokinesiapsychomotor epilepsyquakequakingquaveringquiverquiveringradical changeragerashreflex epilepsyrestlessnessrevoltrevolutionrevolutionary warrevulsionrheumrolandic epilepsyrotatoriasclerosisscrambleseizuresensory epilepsyserial epilepsysexual climaxshakesshakingsharp painshiveringshiversshockshootshootingshooting painshuddershudderingskin eruptionsneezingsoresore spotspasmsspellspurtstabstabbing painstewstirstitchstoppagestormstressstress of lifestriking alterationstrokesubversionsuccussionsufferingsweatsweeping changeswirltabestabula rasatachycardiatardy epilepsytechnological revolutiontemblortempesttender spottetanustetanythrillthroethroesthromboembolismthrombosistidal waveto doto-dotonic epilepsytonic spasmtormentornadotorsion spasmtotal changetransiliencetraumatic epilepsytremblingtremulousnesstrismustsunamitumortumulttweaktwingetwitchucinate epilepsyunquietupheavalupsetupset stomachvertigovibrationviolent changevisitationvomitingvortexwastingwhirlwhirlwindwoundwrench
Noun(13 words)
Determiner(1 words)
most sudden motion-change
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: cramp, -ismus, abdominal epilepsy, abscess, access.
- Sentence evidence is available for spasm, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "spasm".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "spasm"
Keep "spasm" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "spasm" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "spasm", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "spasm" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesconstrictionemotional responseepisodeinvoluntary movementmechanical irregularityoperational glitchphysiological eventsymptom
More specific
10 entriesCollocations
9 entrieseye spasmfacial spasminvoluntary spasmleg spasmmuscle spasmspasm episodespasm of angerspasm of laughterspasmodic movement
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
A spasm, violent and uncontrollable, stiffened every muscle in his body.
Source: tatoeba (11810199)
Jessica went into spasms after eating a peanut.
Source: wiktionary
He would use the simplest, plainest language, he said to himself over and over again; but it is not always easy to use simple, plain language,—by no means so easy as to mount on stilts, and to march along with sesquipedalian words, with pathos, spasms, and notes of interjection.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "spasm"?
Closest matches include cramp, -ismus, abdominal epilepsy, abscess, access.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "spasm"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.