verb
convulse
Convulse (verb) means to shake uncontrollably as your muscles jerk violently.
verb
1
To shake uncontrollably as your muscles jerk violently.
"He realized she was crying. He could feel her body convulsing with little sobs and her cheek was wet where it brushed his."
— Mona Lee, Alien Child (1999)
2
To be thrown into serious political or social unrest.
3
To make someone shake or double over, especially from laughing very hard.
4
To throw something into chaos or disorder.
"For Lucifer, as Lord of Fire, was thought to suffer the most terrible pangs whenever the element of fire, over which he presided, was convulsed or agitated."
— Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic (1965)
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Etymology
Taken from Latin convulsus, the past participle of convellere ("to pluck up, dislocate, convulse"), from com- ("together") + vellere ("to pluck, pull"). It is a doublet of convel.
Related words
Rhymes for convulse
See all rhymes for convulse →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of convulse?
"convulse" (verb) means to shake uncontrollably as your muscles jerk violently.
What is another word for convulse?
Other words for "convulse" include thrash, slash, jactitate, thresh, toss.
What is the opposite of convulse?
Opposites of "convulse" include compose, soothe.
What are the different meanings of convulse?
"convulse" has 3 main meanings: 1. To shake uncontrollably as your muscles jerk violently; 2. To be thrown into serious political or social unrest; 3. To make someone shake or double over, especially from laughing very hard.
