as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the Russian Revolution was one of the major convulsions of the 20th century
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Recent Examples of convulsion
Symptoms can be severe and include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes following gastrointestinal symptoms.
—
News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Symptoms of the more serious illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
What Experts Say The ACIP agenda had noted a two-hour block to discuss the MMRV vaccine, including a presentation on febrile seizure, a type of convulsion, following the vaccine—a very rare complication, seen predominantly in children between 12 and 23 months old.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2025
With invasive listeriosis, the listeria spreads beyond the intestines, potentially causing headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Symptoms of the more serious illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
What Experts Say The ACIP agenda had noted a two-hour block to discuss the MMRV vaccine, including a presentation on febrile seizure, a type of convulsion, following the vaccine—a very rare complication, seen predominantly in children between 12 and 23 months old.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2025
With invasive listeriosis, the listeria spreads beyond the intestines, potentially causing headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsion
Noun
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These are among the many questions posed by Simon Morrison’s sprawling biography of place, which seeks to understand a nation through the life of its largest city, tracing Moscow’s evolution via dozens of historical upheavals, from war, famine, drought, and much, much more.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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It’s been a big year of upheaval for Allen, who split from ex David Harbour in February, per People.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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One early muse-like figure is Martin Luther, who in 1524 sparked a revolution by challenging the church’s influence on commerce.—
Valerie L. Myers,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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However, unrest still broke out at the game on Thursday, with anti-Israel protesters in the vicinity.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Tanzania is one of several African countries to hold disputed elections this year that have resulted in unrest.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Thirty-two years ago, freeways fell, buildings flattened and local communities were reshaped forever by the earthquake.—
Jamie Yuccas,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Convulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsion. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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