convulse

verb con·vulse \ kən-ˈvəls \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

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Examples: convulse in a Sentence

Definition of convulse

convulsed; convulsing

transitive verb

: to shake or agitate violently; especially : to shake with or as if with irregular spasms

was convulsed with laughter

intransitive verb

: to become affected with convulsions

See convulse defined for English-language learners

See convulse defined for kids

Examples of convulse in a Sentence

The patient reacted to the medication and began convulsing.
The country was convulsed by war.

Recent Examples of convulse from the Web

In 2002 Pope John Paul II summoned every U.S. cardinal to Rome after revelations of clergy abuse, starting in the Archdiocese of Boston, convulsed the American church.

— james martin, WSJ, "The Missing Link in Sex-Abuse Reform," 20 May 2018
Meanwhile, the ground itself is convulsing in earthquakes and sinkholes.

— jeffrey ball, Fortune, "Photographing The Permian Basin," 25 May 2018
Since its founding in 1718, opposing forces have convulsed and recast the Big Easy into a gumbo of competing cultures and traditions.

— rick jervis, USA TODAY, "New Orleans at 300: Crescent City celebrates its big birthday in style," 11 May 2018
Immediately after coming in contact with the poison rain, a person begins to seize and convulse.

— refinery29.com, "This Is How The Deadly Rain Wiped Out Everyone On The Rain," 4 May 2018
Perhaps the most surprising revelation at the end of a week convulsed by scandal was a Rasmussen poll finding Donald Trump with a positive approval rating of 51 percent, the highest level since March of last year.

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "“The Stormy News Cycle Cancels Out Russia”: Amid the President’s Legal Chernobyl, MAGA Nation Gives Trump Two Thumbs Up," 4 May 2018
Beyond its years as a base for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has been convulsed by civil strife since 2014, when the Shiite Muslim rebels from the country’s north stormed the capital, Sanaa.

— BostonGlobe.com, "US special forces secretly help Saudis fight Yemeni rebels," 3 May 2018
But the accusations underscore the danger that the already ferocious war that has convulsed Syria for the past seven years could spin even further into violence.

— carol morello, Washington Post, "U.N. to meet on chemical attack in Syria, though Russia is expected to stick up for Assad government," 9 Apr. 2018
Opponents contend the bill would inject greater risk into the financial system, possibly increasing the likelihood of a repeat of the economic crisis that convulsed the nation a decade ago and forced a taxpayer bailout of Wall Street.

— erica werner, idahostatesman, "House-Senate standoff puts Mike Crapo’s big banking bill in peril | Idaho Statesman," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'convulse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of convulse

Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere to pluck up, convulse, from com- + vellere to pluck — more at vulnerable

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1614

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

convulse Synonyms

Synonyms

agitate, jerk, jiggle, joggle, jolt, jounce, quake, quiver, shake, shudder, vibrate, wobble (also wabble);

Related Words

rock, sway, swing;

chatter, quaver, shiver, thrill, tremble;

twitch;

dodder, waver;

flicker, fluctuate, flutter, oscillate, undulate, wave;

beat, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb;

Synonym Discussion of convulse

shake, agitate, rock, convulse mean to move up and down or to and fro with some violence. shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose.

- shake well before using

agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring.

- an ocean agitated by storms

rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval.

- the whole city was rocked by the explosion

convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm.

- spectators were convulsed with laughter

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

CONVULSE Defined for English Language Learners

convulse

verb

Definition of convulse for English Language Learners

medical : to have an experience in which the muscles in your body shake in a sudden violent way that you are not able to control : to experience convulsions
: to affect (someone or something) suddenly and violently