convulse

verb4

1. •
   To suffer violent involuntary contractions of the muscles, causing one's body to contort.

   • He realized she was crying. He could feel her body convulsing with little sobs and her cheek was wet where it brushed his. — 1999
2. •
   To cause (someone) to suffer such contractions, especially as a result of making them laugh heartily.

   • But while he was convulsing all London with laughter, he was fast falling a victim to consumption. — 1882
3. •
   To cause disruption to.

   • 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. — 1965
4. •
   (figurative) To be beset by political or social upheaval.

   • The Persian Empire was convulsing with intrigue, revolt, and civil war. — 1988