convulse

verb

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con·vulse | \ kən-ˈvəls

convulsed; convulsing

Definition of convulse

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

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about convulse

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of convulse in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web At George Washington University, a student’s video — which included a graphic indicating that it was filmed on the Jewish New Year’s holiday of Rosh Hashanah — convulsed the campus earlier this year. — Washington Post, "Trump’s executive order on anti-Semitism plunges into the fierce campus conflicts about Israel and Palestine," 11 Dec. 2019 The issue of migration has convulsed Europe since the influx of more than a million people in 2015 and 2016, fleeing violence and poverty in the Mideast, Afghanistan and Africa. — Washington Post, "European money spawns more misery for migrants in Libya," 31 Dec. 2019 As agents were searching the plane, Juice WRLD started convulsing and went into cardiac arrest, the Chicago Tribune reported. — Helen Murphy, PEOPLE.com, "Nicki Minaj Calls Juice WRLD a 'Kindred Spirit' in Emotional Speech After His Death," 13 Dec. 2019 Those talks are expected to revive many of the cross-Channel tensions in evidence since the 2016 referendum in which Britain voted to leave the European Union, convulsing the country’s politics. — Stephen Castle, BostonGlobe.com, "U.K. Parliament gives Brexit green light," 9 Jan. 2020 Those talks are expected to revive many of the cross-Channel tensions in evidence since the 2016 referendum in which Britain voted to leave the European Union, convulsing the country’s politics. — Stephen Castle, New York Times, "U.K. Lawmakers Give Brexit Bill the Green Light," 9 Jan. 2020 America’s campuses are convulsed by a red scare about Chinese spying and intimidation (see Briefing). — The Economist, "The superpower split Don’t be fooled by the trade deal between America and China," 2 Jan. 2020 When Espinosa arrived, Miguel was still convulsing on the floor waiting for an ambulance. — Sarah Ravani, SFChronicle.com, "‘I couldn’t pay the bills’: Son’s epilepsy upends Napa family’s finances," 4 Dec. 2019 Last December, the first rally was held in Sudan to protest the soaring cost of bread and the dire economic conditions, marking the beginning of a pro-democracy movement that convulsed the large African country. — Samy Magdy, USA TODAY, "Sudan sentences 27 security officials to death for torturing, killing protester," 30 Dec. 2019

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.

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Last Updated

22 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Convulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convulse. Accessed 28 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for convulse

convulse

verb

English Language Learners Definition of convulse

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

formal : to affect (someone or something) suddenly and violently

See the full definition for convulse in the English Language Learners Dictionary

convulse

verb

con·vulse | \ kən-ˈvəls

convulsed; convulsing