as in shook
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
convulsing with silent laughter as the inept pianist blithely played on
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Recent Examples of convulsed
For days, the president has issued increasingly bellicose warnings toward Tehran as protests have convulsed the Islamic Republic.
—
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Before the advent of the modern state, the economy convulsed with financial panics roughly every 20 years.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
The young republic’s survival hinged on distancing itself from a Europe convulsed by revolution and war.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
The giddiest among them were new DWTS pro Jan Ravnik and Richter's wife, Jennifer Herrera Richter, who convulsed with joy in the seats behind Richter, Bersten, and Slater.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
According to witnesses cited by The New York Times, Boyd heaved and convulsed for about 15 minutes before he was pronounced dead — a length of time that exceeded the estimates of the Supreme Court’s liberal minority.
—Surina Venkat, The Hill, 24 Oct. 2025
As arson and violence convulsed Black neighborhoods, white support for the movement plummeted.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Before the advent of the modern state, the economy convulsed with financial panics roughly every 20 years.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
The young republic’s survival hinged on distancing itself from a Europe convulsed by revolution and war.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
The giddiest among them were new DWTS pro Jan Ravnik and Richter's wife, Jennifer Herrera Richter, who convulsed with joy in the seats behind Richter, Bersten, and Slater.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
According to witnesses cited by The New York Times, Boyd heaved and convulsed for about 15 minutes before he was pronounced dead — a length of time that exceeded the estimates of the Supreme Court’s liberal minority.
—Surina Venkat, The Hill, 24 Oct. 2025
As arson and violence convulsed Black neighborhoods, white support for the movement plummeted.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsed
Verb
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The probes don’t signal a return to the era of tech crackdowns that shook investor confidence five years ago, a Reuters columnist noted, partly because they’re not driven by founders falling out of grace with Beijing.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
He was fired in December 2010 from his role leading the political efforts of Equality Illinois, a move that shook Chicago’s gay community.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
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The two stood nose-to-nose on the field when the Steelers player grabbed onto Chase’s facemask, jerked his head and appeared to punch him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
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East Denver sushi fans shuddered in late December when Okinawa Japanese Cuisine, a mainstay on Colfax Avenue since 2010, closed and boarded up its doors with brown paper.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
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The Greek writer Kay Cicellis, who died in 2001, might have shuddered at such a sunny view of fate.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the meeting was ending, Vande Kolk’s cellphone vibrated.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Convulsed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsed. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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