as in upheavals
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 convulsions
The country, meanwhile, was experiencing a series of convulsions.
—
Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
Brain swelling from encephalitis can lead to convulsions, permanent hearing loss, intellectual disability and death, according to the CDC.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Symptoms of bird flu in mammals include tremors, convulsions, seizures and muscle weakness.
—Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
But the more-severe version is life-threatening, according to the FDA, and symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Now, that job title could be gone by the end of this year, according to the man who created the artificial intelligence (AI) tool that is sending convulsions through the Valley.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Some permanent changes among survivors have been noted, including persistent convulsions.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
For nearly a millennia and half, even in the centuries when physicians were beginning to supplant priests in treating the ill, epileptic convulsions (unexpected, frightening, enigmatic) remained the territory of the priest.
—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
Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
Brain swelling from encephalitis can lead to convulsions, permanent hearing loss, intellectual disability and death, according to the CDC.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Symptoms of bird flu in mammals include tremors, convulsions, seizures and muscle weakness.
—Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
But the more-severe version is life-threatening, according to the FDA, and symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Now, that job title could be gone by the end of this year, according to the man who created the artificial intelligence (AI) tool that is sending convulsions through the Valley.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Some permanent changes among survivors have been noted, including persistent convulsions.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
For nearly a millennia and half, even in the centuries when physicians were beginning to supplant priests in treating the ill, epileptic convulsions (unexpected, frightening, enigmatic) remained the territory of the priest.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsions
Noun
-
Over the course of the twentieth century, with its endless economic and political upheavals, the numbers of both people and reindeer in the camp have dwindled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Epic survived upheavals in 1990’s with the move from 2D to 3D with Unreal 1; in the 2000’s building console games with Gears of War; and in 2012 moving to online gaming with Paragon and Fortnite.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As is true of many revolutions in flowering plants, some seagrass lineages doubled then edited entire genomes.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Beginning with folk roots, and inspired by Bob Dylan going electric, the Grateful Dead continually adapted and evolved and became indelibly linked with both of the revolutions which began in San Francisco in the post-WW2 period.—
Mike Hanlon
March 22,
New Atlas,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Convulsions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsions. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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