convulsive
adjective
con·vul·sive
kən-ˈvəl-siv 
1
a
: constituting or producing a convulsion
b
: caused by or affected with convulsions
2
: resembling a convulsion in being violent, sudden, frantic, or spasmodic
convulsive laughter
convulsively
adverb
convulsiveness
noun
Examples of convulsive in a Sentence
the assassination of Martin Luther King was one of the most convulsive events of the 1960s
after a day of convulsive trading, the stock market was down 300 points
Recent Examples on the Web
But for anyone with a taste for operatic violence and fountains of blood as shotgun and assault rifle blasts send bodies flying in slo-mo or dancing like convulsive marionettes, Gareth Evans’ gritty neo-noir will be just the ticket.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
In the middle of all this came a convulsive shock, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
When the train pulls away — and his target serenely waves goodbye through the window — Popeye’s convulsive rage is a quintessential Hackman flourish.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025
The reversal of values, principles, and ideals has been convulsive.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convulsive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
In the middle of all this came a convulsive shock, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
When the train pulls away — and his target serenely waves goodbye through the window — Popeye’s convulsive rage is a quintessential Hackman flourish.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025
The reversal of values, principles, and ideals has been convulsive.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convulsive
Cite this Entry
“Convulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convulsive. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
convulsive
adjective
con·vul·sive
-ˈvəl-siv
1
a
: being or producing a convulsion
b
: caused by or having convulsions
2
: resembling a convulsion especially in being sudden or violent
convulsively
adverb
Medical Definition
convulsive
adjective
con·vul·sive
kən-ˈvəl-siv
1
: constituting or producing a convulsion
convulsive disorders
2
: caused by or affected with convulsions
convulsive motions
a convulsive patient
convulsively
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share