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
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
That period was a convulsive time in U.S.-Cuba relations marked by the signing of the migration accords after the Balseros crisis, the shootdown of the Brothers to the Rescue planes and the passing of the Libertad Act, also known as Helms-Burton.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
During the convulsive phase of a seizure, breathing may be intermittent.
—Jacob Pellinen, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for convulsive 
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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
That period was a convulsive time in U.S.-Cuba relations marked by the signing of the migration accords after the Balseros crisis, the shootdown of the Brothers to the Rescue planes and the passing of the Libertad Act, also known as Helms-Burton.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
During the convulsive phase of a seizure, breathing may be intermittent.
—Jacob Pellinen, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2024
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 22 Nov. 2024.
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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