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
Synonyms
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
Patel’s past proposals, if carried out, would lead to convulsive change for an agency tasked not only with investigating violations of federal law but also protecting the country from terrorist attacks, foreign espionage and other threats.
—
Eric Tucker and Alan Suderman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
Coming at the end of a convulsive final day in Baku, Azerbaijan, the conclusion of the Conference of the Parties was greeted by applause.
—Antonio Piemontese, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2024
Americans are sleepwalking toward convulsive pain, a consequence of decades of easy money policies to prevent minor pains.
—George F. Will, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
In the 1890s, amid the convulsive changes of the industrial era and an upsurge in labor conflict and farmers’ political organizing, nearly four million African Americans were stripped of their voting rights.
—Suzanne Mettler, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2020
See all Example Sentences for convulsive 
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Eric Tucker and Alan Suderman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
Coming at the end of a convulsive final day in Baku, Azerbaijan, the conclusion of the Conference of the Parties was greeted by applause.
—Antonio Piemontese, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2024
Americans are sleepwalking toward convulsive pain, a consequence of decades of easy money policies to prevent minor pains.
—George F. Will, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
In the 1890s, amid the convulsive changes of the industrial era and an upsurge in labor conflict and farmers’ political organizing, nearly four million African Americans were stripped of their voting rights.
—Suzanne Mettler, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2020
See all Example Sentences for convulsive
Dictionary Entries Near convulsive
Cite this Entry
“Convulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convulsive. Accessed 24 Jan. 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
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