3 syllables: con, vul, sive. Stress on vul.
kuhn-VUHL-siv
/kəˈnvʌlsɪv/
convulsive is pronounced kuhn-VUHL-siv (/kəˈnvʌlsɪv/). It has three syllables (con-vul-sive), with the stress on "vul". Convulsive describes something related to or causing convulsions or seizures; characterized by sudden, violent, involuntary movements or muscle contractions. The term is typically used in medical contexts to denote phenomena that resemble or induce convulsions, such as convulsive motions or convulsive disorders. It emphasizes rapid, explosive muscular activity rather than gradual movement.
Convulsive describes something related to or causing convulsions or seizures; characterized by sudden, violent, involuntary movements or muscle contractions. The term is typically used in medical contexts to denote phenomena that resemble or induce convulsions, such as convulsive motions or convulsive disorders. It emphasizes rapid, explosive muscular activity rather than gradual movement.
"The patient experienced convulsive fits during the examination."
"Convulsive movements can indicate an underlying neurological issue."
"The drug was effective in stopping the convulsive seizures."
Pronounce as /kənˈvɒl.sɪv/ in US, /kənˈvɒl.sɪv/ in UK, and /kənˈvɒl.sɪv/ in AU. The primary stress is on the second syllable: con-VUL-sive. Break it into three syllables: con- VUL - sive. Start with a reduced /kən/, then a strong /ˈvɒl/ with open back rounded vowel, and finish with /sɪv/—make the 's' crisp and the 'ive' as /ɪv/ rather than /iv/.
Common mistakes include stressing the first syllable (con-VUL-sive) instead of the second, and mispronouncing the middle vowel as /ɔː/ or /ɒl/ in some dialects. Also, speakers sometimes blend /l/ and /v/ sounds or shorten the final /sɪv/ to /sɪ/. To correct: keep stress on the second syllable, ensure the /v/ is clearly voiced, and articulate the final /s/ before /ɪv/ with a light, quick /s/.
In US English, /kənˈvɒl.sɪv/ with a clear /ɒ/ in the stressed syllable. UK English is similar but may move toward /ɒ/ or a deeper /ɒ/ depending on region, while Australian English often has a slightly broader vowel in the stressed syllable and a non-rhotic link before a following vowel in connected speech. The ending /-sive/ remains /-sɪv/ in all three, with subtle differences in vowel quality and ratability of the /ˈvɒl/ portion.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm and the mid-stress position, which is easy to misplace. The middle syllable contains a tense, rounded vowel /ɒ/ that can slide toward /ɔ/ in some dialects, and the final cluster /sɪv/ can blur in rapid speech. Additionally, the /v/ before /ɪ/ requires precise voicing and a clean transition from the /l/ to the /v/ without adding extra vowels.
In convulsive, the final 'e' is not silent in typical pronunciation; it helps signal the final /ɪv/ rather than ending with a closed syllable. The 'e' participates in forming the /ɪv/ ending, with the vowel before it indicating a light, quick glide to the final 'v'. The mouth stays relatively closed for the /ɪ/ vowel, then opens slightly for the /v/ friction. This nuance ensures the ending remains syllabic and distinct instead of truncating.
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Convulsive comes from the Latin convulsus, the past participle of convul-ere, meaning to pull violently apart. The root convul- traces to com- (together) and volut- (to roll, to pull). The form entered English in the early modern period with the sense relating to sudden involuntary muscle contractions. Its medical usage broadened in the 18th and 19th centuries as clinical descriptions of seizures and neurological disorders became standardized. The suffix -ive forms adjectives from verbs or nouns, creating an adjective that denotes an attribute or tendency. The word has held a relatively consistent medical slant, with general use extending to describe anything resembling convulsions, whether literal medical phenomena or metaphorical cases of sudden, violent movement. First known uses appear in early English medical texts and encyclopedic works that described nervous system disorders, evolving into more precise diagnostic language as neurology developed as a science.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "convulsive" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "convulsive"
-ive sounds
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