convulse

Synonym Chooser

How is the word convulse different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of convulse are agitate, rock, and shake. While all these words mean "to move up and down or to and fro with some violence," convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm.

spectators were convulsed with laughter

In what contexts can agitate take the place of convulse?

The synonyms agitate and convulse are sometimes interchangeable, but agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring.

an ocean agitated by storms

When could rock be used to replace convulse?

In some situations, the words rock and convulse are roughly equivalent. However, rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval.

the whole city was rocked by the explosion

Where would shake be a reasonable alternative to convulse?

While the synonyms shake and convulse are close in meaning, shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose.

shake well before using

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of convulse The ocean convulsed in tsunamis that rose 80 ft. high along the Chilean coast. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 30 July 2025 One of the 50 boys starts convulsing on the road, and as Jonsson and Hoffman’s characters walk backwards to see what happens, soldiers have their guns trained on his twitching body before a gunshot rings out. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 July 2025 First elevating an early-career U.S. Geological Survey researcher, Felisa Wolfe-Simon, to acclaim, then to controversy, the study convulsed the scientific community for two years, raising questions over how science is both conducted and publicized. Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 24 July 2025 With each pulse of bass and digitized clap, the onstage projection and floodlights strobed, convulsed, and inverted their colors. Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for convulse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulse
Verb
  • With the final seconds ticking away and the Chiefs’ 30-17 triumph over the Detroit Lions sealed, KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes was looking to shake the hand of Lions safety Brian Branch.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Because the building was shaking.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Earth shuddered with yet another wave of extinctions in this initial chill.
    Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Walking into Lincoln with a freshman quarterback and a fill-in head coach is the kind of situation that would make most teams shudder.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The area put on a display of yellow aspen trees dotting the mountains between evergreens, their delicate leaves vibrating in the wind.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • This whole fictional world vibrates on Robinson’s bizarre frequency, which means Ron may just be onto something.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sounds like the plot of a tear-jerking movie, no?
    David Oliver, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Travis jerked open the door and slid on his butt down a wing that was on fire.
    Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Westerners call them quakers, for the way the leaves tremble in the wind, but these had no leaves on them now.
    Robert Merchant, Outdoor Life, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The lesson isn’t that investors tremble when Fed chairs talk about stocks.
    Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The music of home often quivers with nostalgia.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
  • There’s a breathless mood in the air that quivers and quakes at the protests to come.
    Sara Stridsberg September 15, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Convulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulse. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on convulse

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