nonviolence
noun
non·vi·o·lence
| \ ˌnän-ˈvī-ə-lən(t)s
\
\
Definition of nonviolence
1
: abstention from violence as a matter of principle
also
: the principle of such abstention
2a
: the quality or state of being nonviolent : avoidance of violence
b
: nonviolent demonstrations for the purpose of securing political ends
Examples of nonviolence in a Sentence
Demonstration organizers are urging nonviolence.
Recent Examples on the Web
And that was in keeping with my vow of nonviolence. — Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, "Newsom allows famous Aryan Brotherhood dropout, convicted of two murders, to be paroled," 24 Aug. 2019 In his deep and measured tone, King told the crowd of 3,500 that nonviolence was the most potent weapon. — USA TODAY, "Nashville and the Destiny of Dissent," 15 Apr. 2018 Initial optimism fades, nonviolence is difficult to keep up, differences in political aspirations emerge, and the power advantages of the state take their toll. — Marc Lynch, Washington Post, "What are the lessons of the Arab uprisings for Iran’s protests?," 2 Jan. 2018 Brotherhood leaders eventually rejected such tactics, adopting the principle of nonviolence, but their reputation remained tainted by this early history. — Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, "Mohamed Morsi, Who Brought the Muslim Brotherhood to the Egyptian Presidency," 19 June 2019 The special session calls for a different kind lobbying day, one more in keeping with the spirit of nonviolence that Dr. King preached before he was gunned down. — E.j. Dionne Jr., The Mercury News, "Dionne: State known for Gun Lobby Day on MLK Day faces showdown," 6 June 2019 In order for nonviolence to work, your opponent must have a conscience. — Washington Post, "‘The Great Society’ is set in the turbulent 1960s. ‘Black Panther’ envisions a futuristic present. Both offer lessons for today.," 18 Feb. 2018 The values are rooted in Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of principled nonviolence. — New York Times, "Teaching Gandhi’s Nonviolent Principles in a Violent Time," 18 May 2018 His teachings on love, dignity, nonviolence, dissent and hope must be understood in this light. — Time Staff, Time, "10 Historians on What People Still Don't Know About Martin Luther King Jr.," 4 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nonviolence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for nonviolence
nonviolence
noun
English Language Learners Definition of nonviolence
: the practice of refusing to respond to anything (such as unfair or violent acts by a government) with violence
See the full definition for nonviolence in the English Language Learners Dictionary
Keep scrolling for more