convulse

American  

[kuhn-vuhls] / kənˈvʌls /

verb (used with object)

convulsed, convulsing

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.

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convulse British  

/ kənˈvʌls /

verb

1. (tr) to shake or agitate violently

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

3. informal 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

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Other Word Forms

• convulsedly adverb
• convulsibility noun
• convulsible adjective
• convulsive adjective
• convulsively adverb
• convulsiveness noun
• unconvulsed adjective

Etymology

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; con-

Example Sentences

Oil markets could convulse if Tehran disrupted Gulf shipping.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

Then Hipolito’s body began to convulse — a possible seizure.

From Salon • Jan. 14, 2026

I’m well past that point; some of his stories and novels I’ve read dozens, even hundreds of times, and they can still make me convulse in laughter.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2025

Zapata, who appeared to convulse while still standing, was joined by her partner and trainer Jovanni Martinez, who quickly laid her down in the ring.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 2, 2021

And he stuck his big, ugly tongue out and pretended to convulse.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

Related Words

• shake up
• torment