Meaning & use

convulse

verb·Advanced

To shake or jerk violently and uncontrollably, often due to a muscle spasm or seizure.

See it in a sentence

The patient began convulsing, and the nurses rushed to help him.

She was convulsing with laughter at his unexpected, silly joke.

A note on using this word

"Convulse" is also used figuratively for uncontrollable laughter, as in "convulsed with laughter."

Words with a similar meaning

shakespasm

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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