as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the Russian Revolution was one of the major convulsions of the 20th century
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Recent Examples of convulsion
Men who suffer head injuries are far more likely to suffer unexpected convulsions, so the cause of this syndrome is clearly located in the head.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Formed in England in the mid-1600s, the Religious Society of Friends became known for the tremors and convulsions that would overtake its members during prayer.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Victoria eventually shared that Romeo had been diagnosed with epilepsy, a condition that causes seizures and convulsions.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
On Tuesday, at a sidewalk light pole near the intersection of Smallman and 11th streets, Mitchell said some type of live electrical current sent Denim into full-body convulsions, acting like he was being tased.
—Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Formed in England in the mid-1600s, the Religious Society of Friends became known for the tremors and convulsions that would overtake its members during prayer.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Victoria eventually shared that Romeo had been diagnosed with epilepsy, a condition that causes seizures and convulsions.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
On Tuesday, at a sidewalk light pole near the intersection of Smallman and 11th streets, Mitchell said some type of live electrical current sent Denim into full-body convulsions, acting like he was being tased.
—Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsion
Noun
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The war's devastation has spilled across the region, throwing it into upheaval and leaving many questioning when the conflict will end and how much more will be lost.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The film chronicles a global panic and societal upheaval when humanity receives undeniable proof that aliens exist.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Hours earlier, Orban's supporters had massed in front of parliament on the country's annual commemoration of its 1848 revolution against Habsburg rule.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
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Díaz-Canel’s words masked what was, for adherents of a revolution celebrated by the global left, a painful reality.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Basij have long operated as a national paramilitary force under the command of Iran's Islamic theocratic rulers, playing a major role in violently quashing anti-government protests, including the unprecedented wave of unrest in January.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Elsewhere, experts have warned of social unrest as pump prices soar, rattling governments in Southeast Asia.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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Set against the backdrop of the city’s recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the film traces the two women’s gradual reconciliation through their father’s photographs, exploring themes of loss, identity and the Filipino diaspora.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Convulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsion. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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