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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Example Sentences
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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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Hayden, working the grill behind her husband, laughs and shakes her head with a slight eye roll the way only a loving wife can.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
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In the process, the capsule shakes pretty aggressively.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The mind shudders at the thought.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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So one shudders to think what might happen when the Dolphins now face a murderer’s row of elite running backs and mobile quarterbacks.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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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Basically, how fast a sound source vibrates.—
Laura Kiniry,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
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There's real grit underneath the shag haircut and thigh-high boots, though; see the discotheque scene, where her entire body vibrates with a desperate mix of hope, terror, and determination.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 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 5 Apr. 2026.
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