Convulse is a verb with several related meanings. It can describe violent physical movement, involuntaryhappening without conscious control or deliberate intention muscle contractionssudden tightening and shortening of muscles, or making someone laugh uncontrollably. In more figurativeused in an imaginative, nonliteral way use, it can also mean to shake or disturb something violently.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /kənˈvʌls/
Easy pronunciation: kun-VULS (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: vuls.
Used here in the sense 'move or stir about violently'.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Convulse Meaning
to move violently or jerk around
Part of speech: verb
Definition: move or stir about violently
Example: The storm convulsed the sea.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- thrash — A strong substitute when something or someone moves violently.
- thrash about — Fits the idea of violent, uncontrolled movement.
- thresh — Works in the sense of violent movement, though it is less common.
- thresh about — A good match for struggling or moving violently.
- toss — Can fit restless or forceful movement, but is weaker than thrash.
- jactitate — A dictionary-level synonym for violent, restless movement; uncommon in modern English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Convulse
Meaning 2
to laugh so hard that you cannot control yourself
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be overcome with laughter
Example: The audience convulsed with laughter.
Meaning 3
to make a muscle tighten suddenly
Part of speech: verb
Definition: cause to contract
Example: The spasm convulses her facial muscles.
Meaning 4
to tighten or jerk suddenly without control
Part of speech: verb
Definition: contract involuntarily, as in a spasm
Example: The muscles in her face convulsed.
Meaning 5
to make someone laugh uncontrollably
Part of speech: verb
Definition: make someone convulse with laughter
Example: The comedian convulsed the crowd.
Meaning 6
to shake violently and without control
Part of speech: verb
Definition: shake uncontrollably
Example: Earthquakes convulsed the countryside.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Convulse Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- thrash
- thrash about
- thresh
- thresh about
- toss
- jactitate
be overcome with laughter
- convulse with laughter
make someone convulse with laughter
- convulse with laughter
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using convulse to mean ordinary shaking or trembling when the word usually suggests violent, spasmodic, or uncontrollable movement.
- Mixing up convulse with convulse with laughter, which is a separate sense.
- Treating slash as a synonym, when it belongs to cutting rather than violent movement.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does convulse mean?
Convulse usually means to move violently or jerk uncontrollably. It can also mean to be overcome with laughter or to cause something to contract in spasms.
What is a simple synonym for convulse?
For the main movement sense, strong synonyms include thrash, thrash about, thresh, and toss, depending on the context.
Is convulse always about laughter?
No. Laughter is only one sense. Convulse can also describe violent movement, muscle spasms, or violent shaking.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
