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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of convulsive
The reversal of values, principles, and ideals has been convulsive.
—
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 6 Feb. 2025
Patel’s past proposals, if carried out, would lead to convulsive change for an agency tasked not only with investigating violations of federal law but also protecting the country from terrorist attacks, foreign espionage and other threats.
—Eric Tucker and Alan Suderman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
Coming at the end of a convulsive final day in Baku, Azerbaijan, the conclusion of the Conference of the Parties was greeted by applause.
—Antonio Piemontese, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2024
Americans are sleepwalking toward convulsive pain, a consequence of decades of easy money policies to prevent minor pains.
—George F. Will, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for convulsive
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 6 Feb. 2025
Patel’s past proposals, if carried out, would lead to convulsive change for an agency tasked not only with investigating violations of federal law but also protecting the country from terrorist attacks, foreign espionage and other threats.
—Eric Tucker and Alan Suderman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
Coming at the end of a convulsive final day in Baku, Azerbaijan, the conclusion of the Conference of the Parties was greeted by applause.
—Antonio Piemontese, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2024
Americans are sleepwalking toward convulsive pain, a consequence of decades of easy money policies to prevent minor pains.
—George F. Will, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for convulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsive
Adjective
-
President Donald Trump’s turbulent tariff policy is projected to cause a sharper slowdown in economic growth in the United States and around the world than previously expected, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) found in a Tuesday report.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
3 June 2025
-
This turbulent phase will pass, leading to more peaceful times ahead.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
The protests had been largely peaceful throughout Friday and Saturday, with isolated instances of violent activity.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
Noni finds herself up against Lion’s violent henchmen and women in series of fight-to-the-death encounters aboard the tyrant’s grandiose sailing ship, which lies at the heart of a vast naval fleet.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
America, then, was visible to Fuller as the ferocious winds destroyed the vessel.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
-
The Thunder are deep, play ferocious defense and have a star in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who embraces the big moment.—
Bob Harkins,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
Caron was used to seeing my fiery side, the fierce competitor, the demanding coach.—
Jim Calhoun with Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
-
The feedback was fierce—storyboards dismantled, ideas shredded—but the environment was psychologically safe.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Ripley capped off a furious comeback with a Razor’s Edge toss of Perez onto Giulia, followed by a slam onto a ladder lodged between the first and second ropes.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
Then came the very public split between President Trump and Elon Musk, and a flurry of furious Twitter/X and Truth Social postings, aimed at each other with razor-sharp edges.—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
The measurements suggest that the ruthenium-containing rocks came from the boundary between the core of the Earth and the Mantle and then to the crust through volcanic vents.—
David Szondy
June 07,
New Atlas,
7 June 2025
-
Schrodinger basin, a large impact crater near the moon’s south pole, shows evidence of geologically recent volcanic activity.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
But then a summer came and went, with rabid fans left waiting (due to the writers' and actors' guild strikes) to see which Fisher brother, if any, Belly chooses in the end of the onscreen adaptation.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
-
Lawrence often has this frisky, rabid grin that’s irresistible to watch but also scary.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Convulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsive. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share