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
What about a child with convulsions, but no history of head injury?
—
Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Formed in England in the mid-1600s, the Religious Society of Friends became known for the tremors and convulsions that would overtake its members during prayer.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Victoria eventually shared that Romeo had been diagnosed with epilepsy, a condition that causes seizures and convulsions.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
On Tuesday, at a sidewalk light pole near the intersection of Smallman and 11th streets, Mitchell said some type of live electrical current sent Denim into full-body convulsions, acting like he was being tased.
—Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Formed in England in the mid-1600s, the Religious Society of Friends became known for the tremors and convulsions that would overtake its members during prayer.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Victoria eventually shared that Romeo had been diagnosed with epilepsy, a condition that causes seizures and convulsions.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
On Tuesday, at a sidewalk light pole near the intersection of Smallman and 11th streets, Mitchell said some type of live electrical current sent Denim into full-body convulsions, acting like he was being tased.
—Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsion
Noun
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The conflict also triggered political tensions and economic upheaval, drawing incountries far beyond the Middle East.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2026
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For Washington, the diplomatic shift also reflects a broader effort to stabilize Venezuela after years of political upheaval and economic collapse that triggered one of the largest migration crises in the Western Hemisphere.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The monarchist movement has not governed Iran since 1979, and its corrupt, despotic leader was overthrown in the revolution.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
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The second crisis stemmed from the revolution in Iran and its subsequent conflict with Iraq, which disrupted Iranian oil exporters.—
Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Back then, neither of us could have foreseen the pandemic, Georgia’s growing political unrest, a war in neighboring Ukraine, or the collapse of several multi-brand retailers, which altogether has slowed down progress for Situationist and Georgian fashion more broadly.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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Cruise lines may adjust itineraries due to security concerns, such as military action or civil unrest, along with other reasons like severe weather.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Those who felt the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Plage d'Agadir, Morocco The modern city of Agadir grew from the ruins of an older town that was destroyed in an earthquake in the 1960s.—
Melanie van Zyl,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Convulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsion. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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