cramped

¹

[krampt]

adjective

1. affected with a cramp in a muscle or muscles.

cramped

²

[krampt]

adjective

1. confined or severely limited in space.

   cramped closets.

2. 1. (of handwriting) with characters written small and crowded together.

   2. (of a style of writing) hard to understand; crabbed.

cramped

/ kræmpt /

adjective

1. closed in; restricted

2. (esp of handwriting) small and irregular; difficult to read

Other Word Forms

• crampedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cramped¹

First recorded in 1670–80; cramp ¹ + -ed ³

Origin of cramped²

First recorded in 1670–80; cramp ² + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The hall’s two galleries are, however, unduly cramped, and the well-intentioned call to environmental action veers into preachiness.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

At the time, Lincoln had been a licensed attorney for 1½ years; he still shared cramped bachelor lodgings above a general store.

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During the workshops Rice says her hands cramped, her back hurt and her feet ached.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr Sharabi says he was taken into Hamas' network of tunnels, where he describes spending months with three other hostages in cramped, inhumane conditions with little sanitation or food.

Read more on BBC

The BBC investigation from within four unnamed asylum hotels also uncovered cramped living conditions, and smoke alarms covered with plastic bags as residents used electric hobs in their showers to cook.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• crowded 
• narrow 
• packed 
• small 
• tiny