to convulse

Examples

• All

• I fall on all fours, convulsing, hysterical, hysterically crying, shaking on the floor.

  Pretty Basic Podcast

• I saw the girl go over backward, her hands clawing at her throat as she convulsed.

  Fiction book (2002)

• If you start to convulse, we'll know you're telling the truth.

  Exam (2009)

• Every time you came near her, she would convulse with the hiccups.

  Indecent Proposal (1993)

• The sick man, mostly bones and skin, convulsed as best he could, surprised yet again.

  Fiction book (1997)

• Suddenly, the soldier starts to convulse and spit up blood on Ben's jacket.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Grace clung to her, and Annie felt the child's sobs convulse them as if they were but one body.

  Fiction book (1995)

• His body convulsed once, then went slack, and Keller lowered him to the floor.

  Fiction book (2000)

• His eyelids welled with tears, and he pulled up his shoulders as his body convulsed.

  Fiction book (1996)

• The patient began to convulse violently after the seizure struck unexpectedly.

Synonyms

T

to toss

vsto convulse

94 1.4

To move about in a violent or restless way

is alike but specifically denotes violent shaking from illness or force

T

to thrash

vsto convulse

24 5.8

Move or swing violently without control

is the same violent motion but usually connected to illness or emotion

Q

to quake

vsto convulse

8 4.2

To shake because of fear, cold or strong movement

is closer to involuntary shaking caused by illness or intense emotion

S

to spasm

vsto convulse

5 3.4

To make a muscle suddenly tighten without control

is broader violent shaking often linked to illness, emotion, or force

T

to thrash about

vsto convulse

1 6.1

Move the body violently when in pain or fear

is like that movement but commonly caused by illness or strong feeling

T

to thresh

vsto convulse

1 8.9

Move violently without control, often by kicking when hurt

is similar but more often describes shaking from internal medical causes

T

to thresh about

vsto convulse

1 7.9

Make quick, wild movements because you are afraid or in pain

is comparable yet tends to name shaking tied to sickness or strong emotion

J

to jactitate

vsto convulse

• Archaic

9.9

To move or shake your body suddenly and violently

is similar but normally implies medical or emotional involuntary shaking

Phrasal Verbs

C

to convulse in pain

8.2

Shake suddenly and very hard because of strong pain

C

to convulse with laughter

4.5

Laugh so hard that your body shakes

C

to convulse with shock

8.5

To shake hard because you feel very surprised or upset

How Violent

to convulse

8 7.8

to shudder

85 3.7

to shake

916 1.0

to tremble

164 2.5

Surface Forms

Etymology