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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 convulsion
High doses can cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death.
—
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
In 1602, she was afflicted by a slew of symptoms, such as convulsions, fits, and terrors.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
But her vitals are strong and there’s startling force in her unpredictable convulsions and bone-chilling noises.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
The country, meanwhile, was experiencing a series of convulsions.
—Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
In 1602, she was afflicted by a slew of symptoms, such as convulsions, fits, and terrors.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
But her vitals are strong and there’s startling force in her unpredictable convulsions and bone-chilling noises.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
The country, meanwhile, was experiencing a series of convulsions.
—Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsion
Noun
-
Of course, the speculative, the surreal, the fantastic has always lent itself to intense, often other-wordly experiences of grief and upheaval.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
The Town Council experienced a wave of upheaval in 2025 amid executive actions, member dismissals, resignations and public criticism.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The backstory Before there was a hotel, there was a revolution.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Said grew up in Iran in the decade and a half before the 1979 revolution and left for America shortly after it.—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Madonna has made music through various calamities that at the time felt world-ending — wars, political unrest, financial collapse — so the terrors of 2026 don’t seem to faze her.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
But its popularity didn’t spread beyond the northern Spanish city until the domestic unrest that had blighted the Basque region dissipated in the 2010s.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
But decades of wear, tear and deferred maintenance, plus the Loma Prieta earthquake, left the facility, known as the Plunge, facing demolition, until the community rallied to raise money for a $7 million renovation.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Convulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsion. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
