convulsion
noun
con·vul·sion
kən-ˈvəl-shən 
1
a
: an abnormal violent and involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the muscles
b
2
a
: a violent disturbance
b
: an uncontrolled fit : paroxysm
Synonyms
Examples of convulsion in a Sentence
the Russian Revolution was one of the major convulsions of the 20th century
Recent Examples on the Web
Obviously, the convulsions of Reddit are not the Waleses’ primary concern at the moment, but the ancillary coverage, including ours, can’t have helped.
—
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024
But others having seizures experience full body convulsions with a loss of consciousness.
—Jacob Pellinen, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2024
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2024
Brain swelling from encephalitis can lead to convulsions, permanent hearing loss, intellectual disability and death.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
About one child in every 1,000 who contract measles can end up with brain swelling, or encephalitis, which can cause convulsions and leave children deaf or with intellectual disabilities, the CDC says.
—The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024
The global economic convulsion that would follow an interruption of Taiwanese chips could well exceed those caused by the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Andrew S. Erickson, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2024
There would be many more funerals to come, many more convulsions of grief.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023
High levels of lead exposure can cause severe brain and central nervous system damage, leading to intellectual disabilities, behavioral disorders, coma, convulsions and death, according to the World Health Organization.
—Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024
But others having seizures experience full body convulsions with a loss of consciousness.
—Jacob Pellinen, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2024
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2024
Brain swelling from encephalitis can lead to convulsions, permanent hearing loss, intellectual disability and death.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
About one child in every 1,000 who contract measles can end up with brain swelling, or encephalitis, which can cause convulsions and leave children deaf or with intellectual disabilities, the CDC says.
—The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024
The global economic convulsion that would follow an interruption of Taiwanese chips could well exceed those caused by the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Andrew S. Erickson, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2024
There would be many more funerals to come, many more convulsions of grief.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023
High levels of lead exposure can cause severe brain and central nervous system damage, leading to intellectual disabilities, behavioral disorders, coma, convulsions and death, according to the World Health Organization.
—Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'convulsion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near convulsion
Cite this Entry
“Convulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convulsion. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
convulsion
noun
con·vul·sion
kən-ˈvəl-shən
1
: an abnormal violent contraction or series of contractions of the muscles that is not under control of the will
2
: a violent disturbance
Medical Definition
convulsion
noun
con·vul·sion
kən-ˈvəl-shən
1
: an abnormal violent and involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the muscles
—often used in plural
a patient suffering from convulsions
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share