convulsive

[kuhn-vuhl-siv]

adjective

1. of the nature of or characterized by convulsions or spasms.

   Synonyms: spasmodic

2. producing or accompanied by convulsion.

   convulsive rage.

Other Word Forms

• convulsively adverb
• convulsiveness noun
• postconvulsive adjective
• unconvulsive adjective
• unconvulsively adverb
• unconvulsiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of convulsive¹

From the Latin word convulsīvus, dating back to 1605–15. See convulse, -ive

Example Sentences

John Simpson of the BBC noted recently that “there are years when the world goes through some fundamental, convulsive change.”

Read more on Salon

Just occasionally, there are years when the world goes through some fundamental, convulsive change.

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“Overruling Chevron,” Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar wrote in a Supreme Court brief defending the doctrine, “would be a convulsive shock to the legal system.”

Read more on New York Times

Defending the rulings that upheld the fees, the Biden administration said that overturning the Chevron decision would produce a “convulsive shock” to the legal system.

Read more on Seattle Times

Continuous monitoring of child deaths and improvements in health records to track how often these convulsive seizures precede death, he explains, will be needed for this to be confirmed.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• agitated 
• crazy 
• distraught 
• emotional 
• frantic 
• frenzied 
• furious 
• impassioned 
• mad 
• nervous 
• neurotic 
• overwrought 
• passionate 
• uncontrollable 
• vehement 
• violent