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
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
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
So are wild garlic and death camas, a plant that can cause vomiting, convulsions, coma and death.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Such an approach weathered domestic convulsions.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Several works look back vividly and honestly on the convulsions of the past.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
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
So are wild garlic and death camas, a plant that can cause vomiting, convulsions, coma and death.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Such an approach weathered domestic convulsions.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Several works look back vividly and honestly on the convulsions of the past.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsions
Noun
-
But land does offer a hedge against inflation, diversification against economic upheavals, and provides a certainty that isn’t available with assets whose value can evaporate in a short time span, like Washington Mutual or Enron.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
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Last year, the global development sector faced enormous upheavals, with the United States and other donor countries slashing aid budgets even as low-income countries struggled with debt burdens.—
Reem Alabali Radovan,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The anti-ICE mobilization that unfolded around the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last week mirrored the methods used to overthrow governments and spark bloody revolutions around the globe, according to a Fox News Digital analysis.—
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Gramophone records spun at 78 revolutions per minute.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Convulsions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsions. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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