convulsion

[ kuhn-vuhl-shuhn ]

noun

1. contortion of the body caused by violent, involuntary muscular contractions of the extremities, trunk, and head.
2. violent agitation or disturbance; commotion.
3. an outburst of great, uncontrollable laughter.

convulsion

/ kənˈvʌlʃən /

noun

1. a violent involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles
2. a violent upheaval, disturbance, or agitation, esp a social one
3. informal.
   usually plural uncontrollable laughter

   I was in convulsions

convulsion

1. A severe, often violent involuntary contraction of the muscles. Convulsions may be caused by high fevers or poisoning and often accompany such diseases such as epilepsy .

Derived Forms

• conˈvulsionary, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convulsion¹

First recorded in 1575–85, convulsion is from the Latin word convulsiōn- (stem of convulsiō ). See convulse, -ion

Example Sentences

NEW YORK — From the outside, the war in Ukraine is a disconnected stream of videos, sudden convulsions of fire, flame and smoke, or images of hollowed-out buildings gaping with views of abandoned offices, apartments and schoolrooms.

From Washington Post

Every moment it seemed as if the tent would not withstand the onslaught, that the fluttering canvas was in its death convulsions.

From Outside Online

The vaccine can cause mild side effects in some children, including fever and brief convulsions, said Katherine O’Brien, the WHO’s director of immunization, vaccines and biologicals.

From Washington Post

The tremor intensified until, about halfway through the recitation, he fell to the floor in convulsions, having lost all control of his body, including bladder and bowels, in front of an audience of merciless adolescents.

From Nautilus

Electrocution, convulsion, possession, all of the above, all at once.

From Washington Post

It underscores how complicated this case—this social convulsion—ultimately is.

From The Daily Beast

Reconciliations are handled glancingly, if at all; the family simply continues, settling into new patterns after each convulsion.

From The Daily Beast

She had done with little things, and Isabel, with young curiosity, wondered in what convulsion the last of them had gone down.

From Project Gutenberg

Uttering these words, the good lady pointed distractedly to the cupboard, and underwent a convulsion from internal spasms.

From Project Gutenberg

It has been claimed that a shot would break the tube and end the little convulsion.

From Project Gutenberg

When the launch was under way Isabel told Gwynne of the blue flames that had danced over the marsh during the convulsion.

From Project Gutenberg

What he dreaded was the spasm of dying—the convulsion that was to snap the thousand silver strings in the harp of life.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agitation
• cataclysm
• tumult
• turbulence
• upheaval