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 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
An hour later, Bradley Fullerton’s cellmate sought help because Fullerton was having convulsions, according to the filing.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
At the end of almost 4 billion years, on a planet bereft of complex life, the Earth had been suddenly throttled by the most extreme convulsions of the carbon cycle in its entire history.
—Peter Brannen
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
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
An hour later, Bradley Fullerton’s cellmate sought help because Fullerton was having convulsions, according to the filing.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
At the end of almost 4 billion years, on a planet bereft of complex life, the Earth had been suddenly throttled by the most extreme convulsions of the carbon cycle in its entire history.
—Peter Brannen
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsion
Noun
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The debate over Vietnam divided the rising baby boomer generation from their parents and fueled a cultural upheaval.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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In a world fraught with real-life villains, political upheaval and a collective sense of hopelessness, fantasy steps in to inspire people to carry on, and that rings especially true for LGBTQ+ teens.—
Brittany Johnson,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The historian Karen Armstrong argues that our modern focus on belief is a distortion that arose after the scientific revolution.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
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These are the recipes that launched a cultural revolution and created a mogul out of a one-woman catering business.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The unrest presents a test for Hassan, who won plaudits after taking office in 2021 for easing repression of opponents and censorship that had increased under her predecessor John Magufuli.—
Reuters 10 hr ago,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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Three people with knowledge of those interests said there was consternation among insiders that forcing Maduro out could foment chaos and unrest and impede their access.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Speaking of Grande, a second clip posted Thursday by NBC opens with figure skating champion Alysa Liu performing a breathtaking routine on the ice before something like an earthquake interrupts her.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Convulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsion. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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