Find Synonyms
lockjaw Synonyms
Another word for lockjaw
Choosing another word for lockjaw depends on context, so the synonyms and similar words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
• noun (Context 1)
A serious infectious bacterial disease caused by Clostridium tetani, characterized by painful muscle spasms and rigidity, especially in the jaw and neck; tetanus.
Usage Example
"Routine childhood vaccination has made cases of tetanus extremely rare in modern medicine."
Strongest
tetanus
• noun (Context 2)
A condition of sustained spasm of the jaw muscles that prevents the mouth from opening fully; trismus.
Usage Example
"Following the wisdom tooth extraction, the patient experienced temporary trismus due to localized inflammation."
Strongest
trismus
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Lockjaw. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/lockjaw