violence
Americannoun
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swift and intense force.
the violence of a storm.
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rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment.
to die by violence.
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an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws.
to take over a government by violence.
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a violent act or proceeding.
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rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language.
the violence of his hatred.
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damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration.
to do editorial violence to a text.
noun
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the exercise or an instance of physical force, usually effecting or intended to effect injuries, destruction, etc
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powerful, untamed, or devastating force
the violence of the sea
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great strength of feeling, as in language, etc; fervour
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an unjust, unwarranted, or unlawful display of force, esp such as tends to overawe or intimidate
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to inflict harm upon; damage or violate
they did violence to the prisoners
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to distort or twist the sense or intention of
the reporters did violence to my speech
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Other Word Forms
- antiviolence adjective
- counterviolence noun
- self-violence noun
Etymology
Origin of violence
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin violentia; violent, -ence
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Armed violence between the factions in the historical period “Bleeding Kansas” continued from 1854 until the start of the Civil War in 1861.
From Literature
"Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sports and society."
From Barron's
Intervention by the governor and community mediation efforts restored a fragile peace to the area, but the instigators of the violence remain at large.
From Barron's
In the footage we examined, we have not seen any of the victims engaging in violence.
From BBC
He also maintained that violence linked to organized crime tends to be concentrated outside the main tourist corridors.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
