Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to convulse with shock

to convulse with shock

8.5
To shake hard because you feel very surprised or upset
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : convulsionar de shock
  • She convulsed with shock when she heard the news.

Examples

  • She began to convulse with shock after hearing the terrible news.

  • The whole audience seemed to convulse with shock at the sudden announcement.

  • He convulsed with shock when he witnessed the accident in front of him.

  • Did you see him convulsing with shock after the announcement?

  • He convulsed with shock when he witnessed the accident in front of him.

  • The whole audience seemed to convulse with shock at the sudden announcement.

  • She began to convulse with shock after hearing the terrible news.

Synonyms

to shock
vsto convulse with shock
202 2.1

To cause someone to feel sudden surprise and distress

focuses more on violent bodily response to distressing information
to shudder
vsto convulse with shock
85 3.7

To shake suddenly because you feel cold, afraid, or very upset

is stronger and more violent than a simple tremble
to startle
vsto convulse with shock
50 3.3

To move suddenly, for example by jumping, because you feel surprised

is a stronger, more violent bodily reaction than a quick jump
to wig out
vsto convulse with shock
  • Informal
11 9.2

React with strong fear or excitement and lose control

is specifically a sudden violent bodily shaking rather than broader emotional loss
to jolt
vsto convulse with shock
8 4.3

To surprise someone and make them react

is a more extreme, prolonged violent bodily shaking response
to convulse
vsto convulse with shock
8 7.8

Shake hard and without control because of illness, a strong feeling, or a hit

is a sudden violent reaction to unexpected distressing news
to jump out of one's skin
vsto convulse with shock
  • Informal
5 7.7

To be very surprised and move suddenly because of fear

is a harsher, more violent bodily reaction to distressing events
to blood run cold
vsto convulse with shock
  • Informal
3 8.1

Feel sudden, strong fear or shock

is a more physically violent shaking response to distressing events
to shock the hell out of someone
vsto convulse with shock
  • Informal
2 8.1

To surprise someone suddenly and very strongly

tends toward actual violent bodily shaking rather than mere surprise
to consternate
vsto convulse with shock
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To make someone feel sudden shock and worry

is more physical and violent rather than mainly mental upset
to hit like a lightning bolt
vsto convulse with shock
8.2

To feel sudden shock or surprise

is similar but emphasizes violent bodily disturbance rather than metaphorical impact
to reel with shock
vsto convulse with shock
7.2

To feel so shocked for a short time that you cannot think or speak

is a more physical, violent motion rather than stunned immobility
to revulse
vsto convulse with shock
9.3

Make someone feel sudden shock or disgust

is more about violent bodily shaking from distress rather than disgust

How Violent

to convulse with shock
8.5
to recoil
19 4.9
to jerk
217 2.0
to flinch
71 4.1
to twitch
66 2.8

Surface Forms

convulse with shock infinitive
convulsed with shock past
convulsed with shock past participle
convulsing with shock present participle
convulses with shock third person singular

Morphology

convulse + with + shock

The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'convulse' means to shake violently and 'with shock' indicates the cause (sudden surprise or distress), so the full phrase simply describes shaking because of shock. This follows a transparent verb + with + noun cause pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase convulse with shock shows a strong picture of someone suddenly shaking and unable to control their body, where to convulse is to shake and a shock is a sudden fright or terrible piece of news. So it means 'to react suddenly and violently' to an unexpected or upsetting event.