convulse

[ kuhn-vuhls ]

/ kənˈvʌls /

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See synonyms for: convulse / convulsed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), con·vulsed, con·vuls·ing.

to shake violently; agitate.

to cause to shake violently with laughter, anger, pain, etc.

to cause to suffer violent, spasmodic contractions of the muscles.

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Origin of convulse

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere “to shatter, tear loose,” equivalent to con- intensive prefix + vul- (variant stem of vellere “to pull, tear”) + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix; see con-

OTHER WORDS FROM convulse

con·vuls·ed·ly, adverbcon·vuls·i·ble, adjectivecon·vuls·i·bil·i·ty, nounun·con·vulsed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use convulse in a sentence

As these collective failures convulsed the nation, the individuals who ran Facebook, Twitter, and AWS faced a difficult choice.
The Right’s Message to Silicon Valley: 'Free Speech for Me, But Not for Thee'|David French|January 16, 2021|Time
The haunting video shows apparent victims, including children, convulsing and foaming at the mouth.
Six Chilling Moments from Charlie Rose’s Assad Interview (VIDEO)|Ben Teitelbaum|September 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I turned to look at the building that I had just run out of; it was convulsing uncontrollably.
My Earthquake Experience in Tokyo|Andrew Pateras|March 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
His girlfriend told CBS Sacramento that he was “convulsing, snorting, trying to breathe.”
'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Seizures & More Movies That Can Kill (VIDEO)|The Daily Beast Video|November 8, 2010|DAILY BEAST

In the middle of a prayer meeting, Jindal claimed that Susan collapsed and began convulsing on the floor.
Bobby Jindal's Secret Past|Max Blumenthal|February 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Once that happened, global assembly lines would stop, the losses would mount, and the entire industry would begin convulsing.
The Next Global Meltdown?|Greg Lindsay, John D. Kasarda|December 2, 2008|DAILY BEAST
“Very good,” said he, tucking the brain-convulsing volume under his arm.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
So rigid was his self-control that he gave no other sign of the passion that was convulsing him.
The Terms of Surrender|Louis Tracy
Her fortitude gone, her pains convulsing her, she wailed to Taylor the story of the nights tragic adventure.
The Ranchman|Charles Alden Seltzer
I had no doubts of it as a prophetic utterance, as a world-convulsing message, but the Editor of Lippincott's had.
Our Philadelphia|Elizabeth Robins Pennell
With an Argus eye he watched her destinies through all her convulsing changes.
Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution|L. Carroll Judson

British Dictionary definitions for convulse

convulse

/ (kənˈvʌls) /

verb

(tr) to shake or agitate violently

(tr) to cause (muscles) to undergo violent spasms or contractions

(intr often foll by with) informal to shake or be overcome (with violent emotion, esp laughter)

(tr) to disrupt the normal running of (a country, etc)student riots have convulsed India

Derived forms of convulse

convulsive, adjectiveconvulsively, adverbconvulsiveness, noun

Word Origin for convulse

C17: from Latin convulsus, from convellere to tear up, from vellere to pluck, pull

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

convulse

Origin of convulse

OTHER WORDS FROM convulse

Words related to convulse

How to use convulse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for convulse

Derived forms of convulse

Word Origin for convulse