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violent

adjective
vi·​o·​lent | \ ˈvÄ«-É™-lÉ™nt How to pronounce violent (audio) \

Definition of violent

1a(1) : marked by the use of usually harmful or destructive physical force a violent attack violent crime The peaceful demonstration turned violent.
(2) : showing or including violence violent movies
b : extremely powerful or forceful and capable of causing damage violent storms violent coughing
2 : caused by physical force or violence : not natural a violent death
3a : emotionally agitated to the point of using harmful physical force became violent after an insult
b : prone to commit acts of violence violent prison inmates
4a : notably forceful, furious, or vehement a violent argument a violent denunciation
b : extreme, intense violent pain violent colors
Other Words from violent Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about violent

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Other Words from violent

violently adverb

Examples of violent in a Sentence

They witnessed a violent struggle between police and protesters. The peaceful protest suddenly turned violent. The city has experienced an increase in violent crime in the past year. The final scene was extremely violent. She suffered a violent death in a car accident. The patient suddenly became violent and had to be restrained. He's not a particularly violent person.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The moves came as city officials and law enforcement prepared for potentially violent clashes Aug. 17 during a right-wing rally and counterprotests planned in downtown Portland that had become inflamed with incendiary political rhetoric nationwide. — oregonlive, "An ex-Marine said he’d ‘slaughter’ antifa. The FBI, using Oregon’s new red flag law, took his guns away," 30 Aug. 2019 Officers were working mandatory overtime following a rash of violent crime, including the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Nia Wilson at the MacArthur Station. — Erin Baldassari, The Mercury News, "BART police hiring up, overtime down, as department tackles rising crime," 28 Aug. 2019 The third strike — in which Gunder Felland was killed — proved to be more violent than the first two. — Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Margarine smugglers, a deadly milk war and more flavor Wisconsin's dairy history," 28 Aug. 2019 Shortly after, June discovered the truth about his violent past as part of the Gilead crusade. — Emma Dibdin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Max Minghella Talks Nick's Future on The Handmaid's Tale," 28 Aug. 2019 There has been ample infighting and drama at the upper echelons of tennis lately to rival the Tony’s, everything from gender pay inequality to a violent assault by one of the sport’s top executives. — Horacio Silva, Town & Country, "The 2019 U.S. Open: A Quick Guide to Everything You Need to Know," 27 Aug. 2019 Still, Stüeken says, paleoclimate studies should consider the possible role of such violent collisions. — Eric Hand, Science | AAAS, "Shock and thaw? Earth’s oldest asteroid impact may have helped lift the planet out of a deep freeze," 27 Aug. 2019 What are the causes of our obsession with violent crime and, perhaps more importantly, what are the political and sociological consequences of it? — Jonny Auping, Longreads, "‘Victims Become This Object of Fascination… This Silent Symbol.’," 23 Aug. 2019 Some activists say Twitter is responsible for allowing far right actors to spread violent ideologies on its platform. — Erin Corbett, Fortune, "When Will Twitter Ban White Nationalists? Civil Rights Leaders Urge the Site to Take Action," 12 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'violent.' 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 violent

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

History and Etymology for violent

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin violentus; akin to Latin vis strength — more at vim

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More Definitions for violent

violent

adjective
How to pronounce violent (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of violent

: using or involving the use of physical force to cause harm or damage to someone or something : showing violence
: caused by physical force or violence
: trying to physically attack someone because of anger

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

violent

adjective
vi·​o·​lent | \ ˈvÄ«-É™-lÉ™nt How to pronounce violent (audio) \

Kids Definition of violent

1 : showing very strong force a violent earthquake
2 : extreme entry 1 sense 1, intense violent pain
3 : using or likely to use harmful force a violent person
4 : caused by force a violent death

Other Words from violent

violently adverb The ground shook violently.

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