What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
narrow
Example
The alley was too narrow for two people to walk side by side. [narrow: adjective]
Example
The candidate's views on the issue were too narrow and lacked nuance. [narrow: adjective]
Example
I felt a narrow sense of relief when I found my lost keys. [narrow: figurative]
cramped
Example
The apartment was so cramped that there was barely enough room to move around. [cramped: adjective]
Example
After sitting in the car for hours, my legs felt cramped and sore. [cramped: adjective]
Example
The team's creativity was cramped by the strict guidelines they had to follow. [cramped: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Narrow is more commonly used than cramped in everyday language. Narrow is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cramped is more specific and usually only applies to physical spaces.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between narrow and cramped?
Both narrow and cramped are relatively informal words, but narrow is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
