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vehement

adjective
ve·​he·​ment | \ ˈvē-ə-mənt How to pronounce vehement (audio) \

Definition of vehement

: marked by forceful energy : powerful a vehement wind : such as
a : intensely emotional : impassioned, fervid vehement patriotism
b(1) : deeply felt a vehement suspicion
(2) : forcibly expressed vehement denunciations
c : bitterly antagonistic a vehement debate
Other Words from vehement Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about vehement

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Other Words from vehement

vehemently adverb

Examples of vehement in a Sentence

Cranes rise above the old rooftops, adding new office towers and new condominiums and new malls to a city where Jonathan Swift once issued his vehement bulletins. — Pete Hamill, Gourmet, April 2007 As they shouted and mocked, I wondered how they could have developed such intense, vehement hatred toward people with whom they had had no previous contact. — Todd Hechtman, The News/Sun-Sentinel, 1 Feb. 1987 He cursed himself like a less scrupulous Job, as a vehement man will do when he loses self-respect, the last mental prop under poverty. — Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge, 1886 Both the ladies indulged in vehement screaming for several minutes; and Mr. Cymon Tuggs, besides sustaining intense bodily pain, had the additional mental anguish of witnessing their distressing situation, without having the power to rescue them, by reason of his leg being firmly screwed in between the animal and the wall. — Charles Dickens, Sketches by "Boz", 1836 He issued a vehement denial of the accusation. The proposal has faced vehement opposition from many teachers. She was vehement about the need for new safety measures.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 In response, a vehement separatist movement still clashes with Turkish troops. — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "Today, the Kurds are spread across four nations. Who are they?," 16 Aug. 2019 Our hosts come out, and McGraw pretends all the vehement cheers are for Meacham. — Rachel Manteuffel, Washington Post, "Tim McGraw sings. Jon Meacham talks. This is not your regular book tour.," 22 July 2019 After all, Trump has essentially stocked his entire government with formerly vehement critics, many of whom said far, far worse things about him than the British Ambassador did. — Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, "“Congratulations Again, Mr. President”: Trump and the Co-opting of the G.O.P.," 12 July 2019 Longtime hyper-involved volunteer Suzanne (Lisa Anne Porter, bouncing up and down with the enthusiasm of Richard Simmons) is equally vehement in bulldozing her views over everyone else’s and then reproaching herself for doing so. — Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, "Aurora’s ‘Eureka Day’ goes from ‘so Berkeley’ to universal," 22 Apr. 2018 On the whole, reactions to the film were so vehement that some wondered if the movie was too controversial to be released at all. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "Critics called Lars von Trier’s new movie “repulsive.” It’s being released twice.," 6 Dec. 2018 In the 11 months since Meadow was murdered, Mr. Pollack has been transformed from an ordinary suburban dad and rental-market realtor to a vehement, in-your-face crusader for school safety. — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, "A Parkland Father’s Quest for Accountability," 11 Jan. 2019 Leaked reports of the solutions being discussed led to vehement speculation and no shortage of nationalist rhetoric in Greece. — Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, "Greeks Protest Over Neighbor’s Use of the Name Macedonia," 21 Jan. 2018 Unmentioned in the statements were the videos that drew vehement objections online and prompted dozens of celebrities to drop out of Wednesday’s event and call for boycotts. — WSJ, "Dolce & Gabbana Tripped Up in China by Promo Deemed Racist," 22 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vehement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of vehement

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for vehement

borrowed from Middle French, going back to Old French, borrowed from Latin vehement-, vehemens, vēmens "violent, vigorous, (of feelings) overmastering, powerful," perhaps from vehere "to convey, carry along, drive" + -mens, adjective suffix (as in clēmens "mild, calm") of uncertain origin

Note: Alternatively explained as a prefix vē- "faulty, excessive or deficient" and ment-, mens "mind," in which case -ehe- is an unetymological spelling of the long vowel. Though this would account for vehemens in place of *vehimens (with normal vowel weakening), the word never has the sense "mentally deranged" (the meanings of the presumed parallel formations vēcors and vēsānus).

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More Definitions for vehement

vehement

adjective
How to pronounce vehement (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of vehement

: showing strong and often angry feelings : very emotional

See the full definition for vehement in the English Language Learners Dictionary

vehement

adjective
ve·​he·​ment | \ ˈvē-ə-mənt How to pronounce vehement (audio) \

Kids Definition of vehement

1 : showing great force or energy a vehement wind
2 : highly emotional vehement patriotism
3 : expressed with force a vehement denial

Other Words from vehement

vehemently adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on vehement

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for vehement

Spanish Central: Translation of vehement

Nglish: Translation of vehement for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of vehement for Arabic Speakers

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