1
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance
the assassination of Martin Luther King was one of the most convulsive events of the 1960s
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
after a day of convulsive trading, the stock market was down 300 points
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Recent Examples of convulsive
Americans are sleepwalking toward convulsive pain, a consequence of decades of easy money policies to prevent minor pains.
—
George F. Will, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
In the 1890s, amid the convulsive changes of the industrial era and an upsurge in labor conflict and farmers’ political organizing, nearly four million African Americans were stripped of their voting rights.
—Suzanne Mettler, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2020
That period was a convulsive time in U.S.-Cuba relations marked by the signing of the migration accords after the Balseros crisis, the shootdown of the Brothers to the Rescue planes and the passing of the Libertad Act, also known as Helms-Burton.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
During the convulsive phase of a seizure, breathing may be intermittent.
—Jacob Pellinen, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for convulsive
George F. Will, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
In the 1890s, amid the convulsive changes of the industrial era and an upsurge in labor conflict and farmers’ political organizing, nearly four million African Americans were stripped of their voting rights.
—Suzanne Mettler, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2020
That period was a convulsive time in U.S.-Cuba relations marked by the signing of the migration accords after the Balseros crisis, the shootdown of the Brothers to the Rescue planes and the passing of the Libertad Act, also known as Helms-Burton.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
During the convulsive phase of a seizure, breathing may be intermittent.
—Jacob Pellinen, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for convulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsive
Adjective
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Starting a new business is never without risk, but in the last few turbulent years of the pandemic and the ensuing turbulence, the risks have felt that much higher.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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The Rundown Trump's Looming War for a Key Trade Route Will Be Costly As President Donald Trump seeks to assert U.S. influence across the globe by implementing stiff tariffs and threatening to seize the Panama Canal, his first economically motivated hot war looms in the turbulent seas off Yemen.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Moderate Auto Industry Recovery The Miller family’s fortune is founded upon the car dealership industry, and that particular sector experienced particularly violent setbacks in the immediate onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, around the time RSL was previously for sale.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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Fast-talking criminals, boxing matches, violent action sequences, car charases, and notable stars (Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren, and Pierce Brosnan) are all present and accounted for.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Hot Spring Shark Attack is set in a small, hot spring town in Japan, where a ferocious ancient shark reawakens and terrorizes the local hot spring facilities.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2025
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Moments of ferocious, wall-of-noise intensity come interspersed with passages of beautiful calm, like vape breaks between stints inside a dungeon rave.—
Sam Davies,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Jackson estate explicitly wanted nothing about Chandler in the film, so fact that the allegations do appear has led to a fierce internal dispute and extensive reshoots, Deadline has confirmed.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2025
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November 1911 debacle wasn't Curie's first time in the public eye: the French Academy of Sciences had recently turned down her application to join, a decision which came after months of public debate and fierce criticism of Curie in the press.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Leafs hatched a furious last-minute comeback to force overtime, only to lose 6-5 in a shootout to the Sharks, Toronto’s second such loss to San Jose this month.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Martin’s work has taken on a furious pace in the past few months amid the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion protocols and health, welfare and Medicaid cuts that will fall hard on vulnerable Black Americans.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Not only do volcanic eruptions kill the fungus, but volcanic ash from the Cumbre Vieja eruption also replenished the soil with nutrients like iron and zinc, and reduced the incidence of banana wilt, according to Dr. Marrero.—
Colette Davidson,
Christian Science Monitor,
28 Mar. 2025
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Still recovering from the intense volcanic activity that triggered the era, Earth’s oceans were warm in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction and oxygen-drained.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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King’s 1981 book about a mother and son who get trapped in their car while protecting themselves from a rabid dog was first adapted for the screen in the 1983.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2025
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The independent releasing strategy tied to another of Roth’s points of horror, the rabid fanbase.—
Borys Kit,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Convulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsive. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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