convulse

verb con·vulse \ kən-ˈvəls \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 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

As Arab Spring protests convulsed the region in 2011, Kuwait's ruling emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, ordered 1,000 dinar ($3,559) grants and free food coupons for every Kuwaiti.

— hussain al-qatari, Fox News, "Kuwait's highest court sentences lawmakers to prison," 8 July 2018
Nicaragua has been convulsed by unrest since April, when its leftist president proposed reducing pension benefits to cover a social security shortfall.

— NBC News, "Violence rings out at Nicaraguan church, university after nationwide strike," 14 July 2018
To keep them from seizing, convulsing, or exhibiting any other outward signs of the adverse effects of the drugs that were actually killing them.

— robbie gonzalez, WIRED, "The Untested Drugs at the Heart of Nevada's Execution Controversy," 11 July 2018
As a member of the president’s family, officials in Pyongyang judged, Mr. Kushner would have the ear of his father-in-law and be immune from the personnel changes that had convulsed the early months of the administration.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Trump team cannot get its story straight on separating migrant families," 18 June 2018
As a member of the president’s family, officials in Pyongyang judged, Mr. Kushner would have the ear of his father-in-law and be immune from the personnel changes that had convulsed the early months of the administration.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Trump team cannot get its story straight on separating migrant families," 18 June 2018
As a member of the president’s family, officials in Pyongyang judged, Mr. Kushner would have the ear of his father-in-law and be immune from the personnel changes that had convulsed the early months of the administration.

— mark mazzetti, New York Times, "A Financier’s Profit-Minded Mission to Open a Channel Between Kushner and North Korea," 17 June 2018
As a member of the president’s family, officials in Pyongyang judged, Kushner would have the ear of his father-in-law and be immune from the personnel changes that had convulsed the early months of the administration.

— mark mazzetti, BostonGlobe.com, "Financier worked to open a channel between Kushner and North Korea," 17 June 2018
The station's staff was convulsed by internal battles from the start -- largely pitting Mas Canosa loyalists against his foes.

— christopher marquis, miamiherald, "Jorge Mas Canosa dead at 58," 15 June 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