convulse

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For others, it's escapism and reason to thrash around and convulse -- and I'm just talking about the band here.

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Definitions (13)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. transitive verb To shake or agitate violently: tremors that convulsed the countryside; when civil war convulsed the nation. See Synonyms at agitate.
  2. transitive verb To affect with irregular and involuntary muscular contractions; throw into convulsions.
  3. transitive verb To cause to shake with laughter or strong emotion.
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Examples (50)

  • The very earth itself seemed to convulse, leap upward, then shake, as if trying to split itself wide open. —  034 - The Fantastic Island
  • Focusing whatever mental strength remained to her on that single need, she cried out and felt her muscles convulse, then subside into a deadly languor—no longer hurting. —  Julian, May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon
  • The girl started to convulse, jerking out the IVs, kicking over the supply tray at her feet. —  Karin Slaughter - Blindsighted
  • You convulse, spittle in rage and have uncontrollable mucous explosions. —  Home
  • For others, it's escapism and reason to thrash around and convulse -- and I'm just talking about the band here. —  blogTO
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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

vivocity ·  mole-like ·  carolling ·  renovator ·  expedtion ·  water-cress ·  respire ·  curdle ·  sydney ·  receiv ·  a-tellin

Used in the same contextWord Family

convulse:   convulsed
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin convellere, convuls-, to pull violently : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + vellere, to pull.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. = French convulser = Spanish Portuguese convulsar, from Latin convulsus, convolsus, past participle of convellere (later Italian convellere), pluck up, dislocate, convulse, from com-, together, + vellere, pluck, pull.
 

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/kənˈvəls/
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