violent

[ vahy-uh-luhnt, vahy-luhnt ]
See synonyms for violent on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. acting with or characterized by uncontrolled, strong, rough force: a violent earthquake.

  2. caused by injurious or destructive force: a violent death.

  1. intense in force, effect, etc.; severe; extreme: violent pain;violent cold.

  2. roughly or immoderately vehement or ardent: violent passions.

  3. furious in impetuosity, energy, etc.: violent haste.

  4. of, relating to, or constituting a distortion of meaning or fact.

Origin of violent

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin violentus, equivalent to vi-, shortening (before a vowel) of base of vīs “force, violence” + -olentus, variant (after a vowel) of -ulentus -ulent

Other words from violent

  • vi·o·lent·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·vi·o·lent, adjective
  • o·ver·vi·o·lent·ness, noun
  • qua·si-vi·o·lent, adjective
  • self-vi·o·lent, adjective
  • ul·tra·vi·o·lent, adjective
  • un·vi·o·lent, adjective

Words that may be confused with violent

Words Nearby violent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use violent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for violent

violent

/ (ˈvaɪələnt) /


adjective
  1. marked or caused by great physical force or violence: a violent stab

  2. (of a person) tending to the use of violence, esp in order to injure or intimidate others

  1. marked by intensity of any kind: a violent clash of colours

  2. characterized by an undue use of force; severe; harsh

  3. caused by or displaying strong or undue mental or emotional force: a violent tongue

  4. tending to distort the meaning or intent: a violent interpretation of the text

Origin of violent

1
C14: from Latin violentus, probably from vīs strength

Derived forms of violent

  • violently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012