Standard Lemma guide

convulse

verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /kənˈvʌls/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌls

1

verb

Meaning 1

To suffer violent involuntary contractions of the muscles, causing one's body to contort.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be beset by political or social upheaval.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To cause (someone) to suffer such contractions, especially as a result of making them laugh heartily.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To cause disruption to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

be overcome with laughter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: laugh, express joy, express mirth

6

verb

Meaning 6

make someone convulse with laughter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The comedian convulsed the crowd

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: amuse

7

verb

Meaning 7

contract involuntarily, as in a spasm

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The muscles in her face convulsed

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, contract, press

8

verb

Meaning 8

cause to contract

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The spasm convulses her facial muscles

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, contract, press

9

verb

Meaning 9

shake uncontrollably

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • earthquakes convulsed the countryside

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: shake, agitate

10

verb

Meaning 10

move or stir about violently

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: thresh, thresh about, thrash, thrash about, slash, toss, jactitate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: shake, agitate

Narrower terms: whip

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: треса се (tresa se) — to violently shake
  • Bulgarian: получавам конвулсии (polučavam konvulsii) — to violently shake
  • Chinese Cantonese: 劇烈震動 /剧烈震动 (kek6 lit6 zan3 dung6) — to violently shake
  • Finnish: sätkiä — to violently shake
  • French: convulser — to violently shake
  • German: erschüttern — to violently shake
  • Japanese: 振動させる (shindō-saseru) — to violently shake
  • Manx: co-leayst — to violently shake
  • Portuguese: convulsionar — to violently shake
  • Portuguese: convelir — to violently shake
  • Quechua: arqhepay — to violently shake
  • Spanish: convulsionar — to violently shake
  • Spanish: crispar — to violently shake
  • Swedish: skaka — to violently shake
  • Swedish: kikna — to violently shake
  • Turkish: sarsmak — to violently shake
  • Dutch: stuiptrekken — to suffer violent uncontrollable contractions of the muscles
  • Indonesian: kejang — to suffer violent uncontrollable contractions of the muscles
  • Māori: hūkeke — to suffer violent uncontrollable contractions of the muscles
  • Spanish: convulsionar — to suffer violent uncontrollable contractions of the muscles
  • Unami: òhchipisi — to suffer violent uncontrollable contractions of the muscles