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 Words From

• con·vulsive·ly adverb
• con·vulsive·ness noun
• postcon·vulsive adjective
• uncon·vulsive adjective
• uncon·vulsive·ly adverb
• uncon·vulsive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of convulsive¹

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

Example Sentences

“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.”

From 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.

From 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.

From Science Daily

"Such crises are resolved through understanding and reliance on rationality, away from the language of emotion and convulsive populist statements that only produce more crises and tension", Sudani was quoted as telling his cabinet.

From Reuters

Because those effects are difficult to observe in living patients, most studies are done on human brains post-mortem — as Meduna did in the early days of convulsive therapies — or on rodents.

From Salon

Related Words

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