convulse

Meaning

1. (intransitive) To suffer violent involuntary contractions of the muscles, causing one's body to contort.
2. (figuratively, intransitive) To be beset by political or social upheaval.
3. (transitive) To cause (someone) to suffer such contractions, especially as a result of making them laugh heartily.

Synonyms

shake

🫨

thrash

thresh

toss

tremble

thresh about

slash

writhe

thrash about

stiff

jactitate

have a spasm

agitate

faint

twitch

shiver

cramp

be cramped

spasm

wriggle

shake violently

have a fit

tic

beat

concuss

contort

disrupt

palpitate

quake

quaver

quiver

rattle

rear up

rigid

shake up

shudder

squirm

succuss

vellicate

vibrate

wrestle

Translations

erschüttern

convulsionar

agitar

conmover

convulsar

convulsionar

avere le convulsioni

συνταράσσω

agitarsi

lottare

in Aufruhr versetzen

προξενώ σπασμούς

crispar

schokken

convulser

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kənˈvʌls/

Etymology

From Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere (“to pluck up, dislocate, convulse”), from com- (“together”) + vellere (“to pluck, pull”). Doublet of convel.