Thesaurus results for CONVULSION

convulsion

noun

kən-ˈvəl-shən

Definition of convulsion

as in upheaval

a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) the Russian Revolution was one of the major convulsions of the 20th century

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of convulsion Later Wednesday, Mexico City Health Secretary Nadine Gasman, told a news conference that another man, about 30, was treated by emergency personnel after suffering an epileptic seizure, convulsions, and gastrointestinal bleeding. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 It is known to cause neurological problems, convulsions and comas, with children particularly at risk. — Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 The Gentlemen’s Club, for all its odd and difficult convulsions, is a heartening step in a positive direction. — Mosi Reeves, VIBE.com, 22 June 2026 Cue convulsions and expressions of agony. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for convulsion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for convulsion

Noun

On his mind are various ideas for addressing social upheaval.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Kyiv, meanwhile, aims to sow economic discontent among Russians with strikes against oil refineries and e-commerce warehouses, but experts argued domestic upheaval is unlikely to change Moscow’s calculus.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of upheaval

Noun

Their source was the collective enthusiasm of a population that had gone into revolution—a revolution forming committees of social self-reliance in every field.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
In rural eastern Nebraska, a technology revolution could rise from fields of corn and soybean in the form of new data centers to power the artificial intelligence boom.

— Will Weissert, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of revolution

Noun

That march, an inflection point in the Civil Rights Movement, also came at a fraught moment for the country, when economic headwinds, civil unrest, political division and the war in Vietnam bitterly divided Americans.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
That march, an inflection point in the Civil Rights Movement, came at a fraught moment for the country, when economic headwinds, civil unrest, political division and the Vietnam War bitterly divided Americans.

— Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of unrest

Noun

After the earthquakes, American Airlines transported relief supplies to Venezuela on a Boeing 737.

— Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Critics say nuclear energy is too expensive and still faces risks from natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of earthquake

Browse Nearby Words

convulsing

convulsion

convulsions

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Convulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/convulsion. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of convulsion

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on convulsion

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

recalcitrant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes