as in shook
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
convulsing with silent laughter as the inept pianist blithely played on
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Recent Examples of convulsed
Mary Fong Lau, 80, was sentenced to three years of probation, plus 200 hours of community service, for an incident that convulsed the city in 2024.
—
Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
The refugee crisis that followed—over 1 million Iraqis ultimately fled into Syria—contributed directly to the Syrian civil war that convulsed European politics throughout the 2010s.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
The war has already convulsed financial markets and led to a spike in oil and gasoline prices and left countries in Latin America bracing for the economic fallout.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
After Algeria was convulsed by nationwide protests in 2019, the government became concerned about broader social unrest and promised economic aid.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
After Algeria was convulsed by nationwide protests in 2019, the government became concerned about broader social unrest and promised economic aid.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
Soltani’s precarious fate became one of the most high profile cases internationally during the huge anti-government protests that convulsed Iran last month.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
The raid convulsed that country, and the effects still ripple through this oil-rich city, home to major petroleum companies as well as a large Venezuelan community.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 1 Feb. 2026
The massacre in Mashhad unfolded on January 8th, after Iranians across the country went out to protest the regime—the culmination of a movement that had convulsed the country for nearly two weeks, following the collapse of the economy.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
The refugee crisis that followed—over 1 million Iraqis ultimately fled into Syria—contributed directly to the Syrian civil war that convulsed European politics throughout the 2010s.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
The war has already convulsed financial markets and led to a spike in oil and gasoline prices and left countries in Latin America bracing for the economic fallout.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
After Algeria was convulsed by nationwide protests in 2019, the government became concerned about broader social unrest and promised economic aid.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
After Algeria was convulsed by nationwide protests in 2019, the government became concerned about broader social unrest and promised economic aid.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
Soltani’s precarious fate became one of the most high profile cases internationally during the huge anti-government protests that convulsed Iran last month.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
The raid convulsed that country, and the effects still ripple through this oil-rich city, home to major petroleum companies as well as a large Venezuelan community.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 1 Feb. 2026
The massacre in Mashhad unfolded on January 8th, after Iranians across the country went out to protest the regime—the culmination of a movement that had convulsed the country for nearly two weeks, following the collapse of the economy.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsed
Verb
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When Bradford delivered the detail about the sandwich, the board and attendees laughed and shook their heads.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Stocks shook off an early stumble to finish with slim gains on Wall Street Thursday and close out their first winning week since the start of the Iran war.—
Damian J. Troise,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
We are jerked between past and present as his backstory gets filled in, one jogged memory at a time.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At least the elevator still creaked and shuddered, as in the old days, finally trembling open on the eighth floor.—
Rick Bragg,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Later, when Tristan gently put his hand on Marke’s shoulder, the king shuddered.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For a moment, the plane quivered around them like a greyhound straining on a leash.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The roar of the crowds gathered at the base of the 101-story building still echoed in his ears, and the thrill of scaling its ten abstract metal dragons vibrated through his body.—
Outside,
Outside,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Even the bathrooms down the hall vibrated with rhythm.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Convulsed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsed. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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