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 To take but one example, the riots that convulsed swatches of England and Northern Ireland last year were fueled by social media accounts claiming sickening crimes by immigrants, amplified by right-wing accounts. David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2025 Taiwan’s new president calls for peace amid tenuous relations with China At the time, China was convulsed by civil war. Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025 His long gray beard flows in convulsing waves to his shoulders. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025 Three times in the modern era, the world has been convulsed by fights over the supercontinent and the waters around it. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for convulse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulse
Verb
  • RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 contestant Phoenix's drama with Ice Spice must've stirred too much after the season 3 queen clapped back against the guest judge's Main Stage critiques about her icon status, but the Drag Race OG hopes the rapper isn't too shaken in the aftermath.
    Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 17 May 2025
  • Clips of the pair shaking hands alongside the disco beat are making the rounds on social media.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • One shudders to think how Ross, whom Grant divorced in 1929, and who died in 1951, would have reacted to so echoing a lack.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
  • The sound seemed to shudder like a pot about to blow its lid.
    Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • The extraordinary source material is a profound inspiration to build a unique world that vibrates with life and death at the same time.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 May 2025
  • Many ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers—humidifiers that vibrate to make mist—can lower water mineralization and bacterial growth.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Earthquakes cause the ground to move in unpredictable ways, sometimes sharply jerking, other times swaying like a ship in rough seas.
    Maya Wei-Haas, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Confused Lochlan, who thoughtfully jerked off his older brother so that Saxon wouldn’t feel left out.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Many episodes later, as Dedra suffers a crushing setback, Gough performs her attempts to choke back tears and still her trembling hands with an almost violent desperation.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Lydia, who – based on her trembling lips – seems to be in poor health, continues to plead with Lawrence.
    EW.com, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There’s quivering and shoving, growling and purring.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The journalist raised her hand, and her voice quivered in seeming alarm as the 6.2-magnitude quake shook Istanbul shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 23.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Convulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulse. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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