as in shakes
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 convulses
Now, as Venezuela’s political order convulses after the capture of strongman Nicolás Maduro and Washington ramps up pressure on Havana, that scaffolding is starting to buckle under pressure.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
As the United States convulses with violent raids from emboldened ICE agents, citizens across the country have fought back with block-by-block mutual aid.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
As the Islamic Republic convulses with demonstrations across all 31 provinces, Iranians of all ages are catching a glimpse of national rebirth after nearly half a century of theocratic rule.
—Behnam Ben Taleblu, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
Some skimming of the froth would not be unhealthy, though the question is whether the market got wound tightly enough that a hiccup in the high-momentum groups convulses the rest of the market too.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
As the United States convulses with violent raids from emboldened ICE agents, citizens across the country have fought back with block-by-block mutual aid.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
As the Islamic Republic convulses with demonstrations across all 31 provinces, Iranians of all ages are catching a glimpse of national rebirth after nearly half a century of theocratic rule.
—Behnam Ben Taleblu, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
Some skimming of the froth would not be unhealthy, though the question is whether the market got wound tightly enough that a hiccup in the high-momentum groups convulses the rest of the market too.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulses
Verb
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Her daytime meals are pretty consistent and include yogurts, protein bars, protein shakes and protein pasta.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) shakes hands with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, China, May 6, 2026.—
May 6,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Nothing much really happens in this movie after Philip’s initial arrest, but the world viscerally shudders under Lucy’s feet every time one of her husband’s alibis falls apart.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
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Hotels used in talks last week have already asked patrons leave as the country shudders into another quasi-lockdown.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a viral video of the aftermath, the robot jerks back and forth to shake the glass off, showering yet more dangerous shards onto the sidewalk.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
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Ross’s video does not show if the SUV made contact with him, as the camera angle jerks up to the sky.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Every night the Dallas Stars host playoff games, the area in and around the American Airlines Center vibrates with activity, commerce and life.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
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Inside, standing 43 inches tall, a silver speaker from Takahiro Miyashita’s brand TheSoloist vibrates high fidelity through the showroom.—
Samantha Lee
Connect
April 17,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Risk factors for cardiac arrest A frequent trigger is rhythm disturbance—especially ventricular fibrillation—in which the heart quivers instead of beating effectively.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Mar. 2026
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The music of home often quivers with nostalgia.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Convulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulses. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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