Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

convulse

/kənˈvʌls/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.90 in modern English

Syllables: con-vulse
IPA: /kənˈvʌls/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To suffer violent involuntary contractions of the muscles, causing one's body to contort.

Intransitive verb

verb

To be beset by political or social upheaval.

Intransitive verb

verb

To cause (someone) to suffer such contractions, especially as a result of making them laugh heartily.

Transitive verb

verb

To cause disruption to.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"He realized she was crying. He could feel her body convulsing with little sobs and her cheek was wet where it brushed his."
"The Persian Empire was convulsing with intrigue, revolt, and civil war."
"But while he was convulsing all London with laughter, he was fast falling a victim to consumption."
"For Lucifer, as Lord of Fire, was thought to suffer the most terrible pangs whenever the element of fire, over which he presided, was convulsed or agitated."

Etymology

From Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere (“to pluck up, dislocate, convulse”), from com- (“together”) + vellere (“to pluck, pull”). Doublet of convel.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: convulsus

Usage

Inflected Forms

convulses (present, singular) convulsing (participle, present) convulsed (participle, past) convulsed (past)

Derived Forms

unconvulsed

Frequently Paired Words

convulsant convulsible convulsion convulsive

Synonyms

thresh thresh about thrash thrash about slash toss jactitate

Rhymes With

pulse repulse dulse propulse depulse avulse

Questions

How do you pronounce convulse?: The recorded pronunciation is /kənˈvʌls/.
What does convulse mean?: To suffer violent involuntary contractions of the muscles, causing one's body to contort.
Where does convulse come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce convulse

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “convulse”.
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