writer's cramp

noun

: a painful spasmodic contraction of muscles of the hand or fingers brought on by excessive writing

Examples of writer's cramp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Operation Available at Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble The poor patient in Operation sure has a lot of ailments: writer's cramp, water on the knee, and brain freeze are just the start. Julianne Hilmes Bartlett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2022 Stage manager David Hartig could get writer's cramp just keeping track of everything. Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'writer's cramp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of writer's cramp was in 1853

Dictionary Entries Near writer's cramp

Cite this Entry

“Writer's cramp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/writer%27s%20cramp. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

writer's cramp

noun
: a painful contraction of the muscles of the hand or fingers brought on by too much use in writing

Medical Definition

writer's cramp

noun
: a painful spasmodic cramp of muscles of the hand or fingers brought on by excessive writing

called also graphospasm

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