convulse

[ kuhn-vuhls ]

verb (used with object)

, con·vulsed, con·vuls·ing.

1. to shake violently; agitate.
2. to cause to shake violently with laughter, anger, pain, etc.
3. to cause to suffer violent, spasmodic contractions of the muscles.

convulse

/ kənˈvʌls /

verb

1. tr to shake or agitate violently
2. tr to cause (muscles) to undergo violent spasms or contractions
3. informal.
   introften foll bywith to shake or be overcome (with violent emotion, esp laughter)
4. tr to disrupt the normal running of (a country, etc)

   student riots have convulsed India

Derived Forms

• conˈvulsively, adverb
• conˈvulsiveness, noun
• conˈvulsive, adjective

Other Words From

• con·vulsed·ly adverb
• con·vulsi·ble adjective
• con·vulsi·bili·ty noun
• uncon·vulsed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convulse¹

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; con-

Word History and Origins

Origin of convulse¹

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

Example Sentences

When he eventually explodes into thinking, delivering a monologue of disordered intellectual half-thoughts and rhetorical tics, the stage convulses in Lewis Carroll absurdity.

From Los Angeles Times

People in Thailand are accusing a high-profile television drama of potentially abusing animals after a cat was shown convulsing on the ground.

From BBC

The partner of Novichok poisoning victim Dawn Sturgess found her laying fully clothed in the bath “convulsing and foaming at the mouth,” an inquiry has heard.

From BBC

UCLA, convulsed with protests over the Israel-Hamas war last spring, unveiled a plan to rebuild community ties with enhanced safety measures, broader dialogue.

From Los Angeles Times

Israel has drawn global criticism, with a U.N. court ordering Israel to halt its offensive in the southern city of Rafah, while American universities from Columbia to Stanford have been convulsed by protests.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• shake up
• torment