Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

convulsive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of convulsive

1 marked by sudden or violent disturbance

  • the assassination of Martin Luther King was one of the most convulsive events of the 1960s
Synonyms of convulsive

cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent
Words Related to convulsive

fitful, spasmodic, sporadic

boisterous, clamorous, furious, noisy, riotous
Near Antonyms of convulsive

calm, peaceful, placid, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unshaken, untroubled

2 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity

  • after a day of convulsive trading, the stock market was down 300 points
Synonyms of convulsive

bang-bang, blood-and-guts, cyclonic, explosive, ferocious, fierce, furious, hammer-and-tongs, hot, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), paroxysmal, rabid, rough, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, violent, volcanic
Words Related to convulsive

barbarous, brutal, savage, vicious

antagonistic, hostile

aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, gladiatorial, pugnacious, quarrelsome, truculent

combustible, volatile

agitated, frantic, frenzied, mad

cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), destructive, ruinous
Near Antonyms of convulsive

calm, halcyon, pacific, serene, tranquil

nonbelligerent, unaggressive
Antonyms of convulsive

nonviolent, peaceable, peaceful

Synonym Discussion of convulsive

fitful, spasmodic, convulsive mean lacking steadiness or regularity in movement. fitful implies intermittence, a succession of starts and stops or risings and fallings.
    • fitful sleep
spasmodic adds to fitful the implication of rapid or violent activity alternating with inactivity.
    • spasmodic growth
convulsive suggests the breaking of regularity or quiet by uncontrolled movement.
    • convulsive shocks

Learn More about convulsive

  1. See words that rhyme with convulsive Dictionary: Definition of convulsive Medical Dictionary: Definition of convulsive Spanish Central: Translation of convulsive Nglish: Translation of convulsive for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up convulsive? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games