charley horses

noun

plural of charley horse
as in cramps
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle had to stop and rest because of a charley horse in his leg

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for charley horses
  1. cramps
  2. stitches
Noun
  • Leg cramps also forced him out of two outings earlier in the season.
    — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Later, cramps limited Traoré, leaving Fernández to lean heavily on Mikel Brown Jr.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of cramps
Noun
  • While her condition stabilized after the attack, Doctors treated her for a traumatic brain injury, brain bleed and multiple deep lacerations that required extensive stitches.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Latest injury report KU sophomore Kohl Rosario needed 14 stitches after getting elbowed at practice Friday and did not attend the game.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of stitches
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

charley horse
charley horses
charlie
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Cite this Entry

“Charley horses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charley%20horses. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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