convulse

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

• He realized she was crying. He could feel her body convulsing with little sobs and her cheek was wet where it brushed his.

To be beset by political or social upheaval.figurativelyintransitive

• The Persian Empire was convulsing with intrigue, revolt, and civil war.

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

• But while he was convulsing all London with laughter, he was fast falling a victim to consumption.

To cause disruption to.transitive

• 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.