1
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance
the assassination of Martin Luther King was one of the most convulsive events of the 1960s
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
after a day of convulsive trading, the stock market was down 300 points
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of convulsive
The buck took a convulsive jump that carried him about 30 ft. and piled up.
—
Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2025
During the past six months, Bondi has presided over the most convulsive transition of power in the Justice Department since the Watergate era, and perhaps in the hundred-and-fifty-five-year history of the department.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
But for anyone with a taste for operatic violence and fountains of blood as shotgun and assault rifle blasts send bodies flying in slo-mo or dancing like convulsive marionettes, Gareth Evans’ gritty neo-noir will be just the ticket.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
In the middle of all this came a convulsive shock, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convulsive
Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2025
During the past six months, Bondi has presided over the most convulsive transition of power in the Justice Department since the Watergate era, and perhaps in the hundred-and-fifty-five-year history of the department.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
But for anyone with a taste for operatic violence and fountains of blood as shotgun and assault rifle blasts send bodies flying in slo-mo or dancing like convulsive marionettes, Gareth Evans’ gritty neo-noir will be just the ticket.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
In the middle of all this came a convulsive shock, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsive
Adjective
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With this goal in mind, this unusually turbulent moment may be the perfect time for family offices to make sure their plans still make sense and position them well for the next century.—
Belinda G. Schwartz,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The leadership change comes at a turbulent moment for the Los Angeles Unified School District, which serves more than 540,000 students.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Although the heat has everyone dealing with some degree of dampness, sweating is often a source of violent embarrassment for you.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
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In Send Help, now in theaters, Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) survive a plane crash and become stranded on a deserted island, where their past office grievances become a violent fight for survival.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Anyone who has defied the regime before has risked their life to do so, and – despite being at the mercy of the most ferocious military machine on the face of the planet – the regime might yet survive.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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American Nathan Martin, a 36-year-old high school cross-country coach from Jackson, Michigan, ran 2 hours, 11 minutes and 16 seconds (five minutes per mile) to claim victory with a ferocious kick that came down to his final stride.—
John Davis,
Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But Ferrari, once Mercedes’ fiercest F1 rival before Red Bull took over in that role at the start of the 2020s, threatened to crash the party once the lights went out.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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But the spring battles for starting jobs look fierce; Warren Roberson, Kade Phillips, Kobe Black and Wardell Mack join Mascoe as cornerbacks that could make a claim on a starting job while safeties Jordon Johnson-Rubell and Zelus Hicks each could use a strong spring to make their case.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Lady Tigers dominated the title game with a furious pace, forcing 14 Westlake turnovers, and left with a 51-37 victory at the Alamodome.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
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Labuschagne’s goal highlighted a furious opening to the match.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Hiking the craggy landscape of Pinnacles National Park, forged by volcanic eruptions so long ago, might leave one as famished as a California condor — which indeed call these badlands home.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
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The National Park Service has closed Kīlauea’s summit, citing danger from glassy volcanic fragments known as tephra.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Based on the rabid demand and explosive growth of Kylie Cosmetics, the company drew the attention of the business press.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
11 Mar. 2026
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As one of the stars of gay hockey smut — sorry, show — Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s overnight catapult into the spotlight has bestowed upon him a rabid fanbase of horny women.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Convulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsive. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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