convulses

verb

present tense third-person singular of convulse
as in shakes
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements convulsing with silent laughter as the inept pianist blithely played on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of convulses Now, as Venezuela’s political order convulses after the capture of strongman Nicolás Maduro and Washington ramps up pressure on Havana, that scaffolding is starting to buckle under pressure. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026 As the United States convulses with violent raids from emboldened ICE agents, citizens across the country have fought back with block-by-block mutual aid. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026 As the Islamic Republic convulses with demonstrations across all 31 provinces, Iranians of all ages are catching a glimpse of national rebirth after nearly half a century of theocratic rule. — Behnam Ben Taleblu, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026 Some skimming of the froth would not be unhealthy, though the question is whether the market got wound tightly enough that a hiccup in the high-momentum groups convulses the rest of the market too. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulses
  1. shakes
  2. shudders
  3. jerks
  4. vibrates
  5. quivers
Verb
  • When isolated issues in other states occur, even if proved untrue, the intense and repeated national media attention on them shakes voter confidence here at home.
    — Heather LaMarre, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Near the corner of Broad Street and Snyder Avenue in South Philadelphia, Shania Bennett shakes hands with a daycare owner.
    — Dan Snyder, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of shakes
Verb
  • The system shudders a bit and then gets back to normal, like a person stubbing a toe or twisting an ankle faces discomfort and difficulty walking for a while.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The American flag has never been among those Davis shudders to make.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 6 June 2026
Definition of shudders
Verb
  • In a viral video of the aftermath, the robot jerks back and forth to shake the glass off, showering yet more dangerous shards onto the sidewalk.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Ross’s video does not show if the SUV made contact with him, as the camera angle jerks up to the sky.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of jerks
Verb
  • The film fairly vibrates with ominous tension even in scenes in which seemingly nothing happens.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Partita takes a poem that vibrates with political energy and domesticates it, sapping this very famous verse of its revolutionary bite.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of vibrates
Verb
  • Even now, there are moments during presentations when my voice still quivers.
    — Michelle De Almeida, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Risk factors for cardiac arrest A frequent trigger is rhythm disturbance—especially ventricular fibrillation—in which the heart quivers instead of beating effectively.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of quivers

Browse Nearby Words

convulsed
convulses
convulsing
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Cite this Entry

“Convulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulses. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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