convulse

Verb

• contract involuntarily, as in a spasm
  • The muscles in her face convulsed
    

• cause to contract
  • The spasm convulses her facial muscles
    

• shake uncontrollably
  • earthquakes convulsed the countryside
    

• move or stir about violently
  • The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed
    

• be overcome with laughter

• make someone convulse with laughter
  • The comedian convulsed the crowd
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  thresh , thresh about , thrash , thrash about , slash , toss , jactitate