violence

[ vahy-uh-luhns ]

/ ˈvaɪ ə ləns /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR violence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

swift and intense force: the violence of a storm.

rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment: to die by violence.

an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws: to take over a government by violence.

a violent act or proceeding.

rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language: the violence of his hatred.

damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration: to do editorial violence to a text.

Nearby words

violable, violaceous, violate, violation, violative, violence, violent, violent storm, violescent, violet, violet family

Origin of violence

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin violentia; see violent, -ence

SYNONYMS FOR violence

1 might, power, impact, fury.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR violence ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

an·ti·vi·o·lence, adjectivecoun·ter·vi·o·lence, nounself-vi·o·lence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for violence

There is no such thing as speech so hateful or offensive it somehow “justifies” or “legitimizes” the use of violence.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The fear of violence should not determine what one does or does not say.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When twelve people are killed by violence, whoever they are, for whatever reason, that is a tragedy and a waste.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What they say is, ‘We don’t approve of violence, but you know what?
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The people who are involved in the violence, they figure out ways to remain here at all costs and continue causing trouble.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Italian despots gained their power by violence and wielded it with craft.
Sketches and Studies in Italy and Greece, Second Series|John Addington Symonds
It does violence even to that minimum of intellectual eagerness which is the portion of a contemplative mind.
The Galaxy, June 1877|Various
The statement of violence rested on the word of the victims alone.
Quintus Oakes|Charles Ross Jackson
In the midst of the bitterness of party spirit and the violence of political animosity, she was mild and courteous to all.
Alida|Amelia Stratton Comfield
Then came an explosion, the violence of which really astonished me.
Over the Front in an Aeroplane and Scenes Inside the French and Flemish Trenches|Ralph Pulitzer

British Dictionary definitions for violence

violence

/ (ˈvaɪələns) /

noun

the exercise or an instance of physical force, usually effecting or intended to effect injuries, destruction, etc

powerful, untamed, or devastating forcethe violence of the sea

great strength of feeling, as in language, etc; fervour

an unjust, unwarranted, or unlawful display of force, esp such as tends to overawe or intimidate

do violence to

to inflict harm upon; damage or violatethey did violence to the prisoners
to distort or twist the sense or intention ofthe reporters did violence to my speech

Word Origin for violence

C13: via Old French from Latin violentia impetuosity, from violentus violent

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