What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
chorea
Example
The patient was diagnosed with chorea, which caused her arms and legs to move uncontrollably. [chorea: noun]
Example
Her choreic movements made it difficult for her to perform daily tasks. [choreic: adjective]
spasm
Example
I woke up with a spasm in my neck, and it was really painful. [spasm: noun]
Example
Her leg spasmed after she ran for a long time. [spasmed: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spasm is more commonly used than chorea in everyday language. Spasm is a term that people may use to describe sudden muscle contractions or cramps that they experience, while chorea is a more specialized medical term used by healthcare professionals to describe a specific neurological disorder.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between chorea and spasm?
Both chorea and spasm are formal terms used in medical contexts. However, spasm may also be used in informal conversations to describe sudden muscle contractions or cramps that people experience in their daily lives.
