violent

[vahy-uh-luhnt, vahy-luhnt]

adjective

1. acting with or characterized by uncontrolled, strong, rough force.

   a violent earthquake.

2. caused by injurious or destructive force.

   a violent death.

3. intense in force, effect, etc.; severe; extreme.

   violent pain;

   violent cold.

4. roughly or immoderately vehement or ardent.

   violent passions.

5. furious in impetuosity, energy, etc..

   violent haste.

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

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

3. marked by intensity of any kind

   a violent clash of colours

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

5. caused by or displaying strong or undue mental or emotional force

   a violent tongue

6. tending to distort the meaning or intent

   a violent interpretation of the text

Other Word Forms

• violently adverb
• overviolent adjective
• overviolentness noun
• quasi-violent adjective
• self-violent adjective
• ultraviolent adjective
• unviolent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of violent¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of violent¹

C14: from Latin violentus, probably from vīs strength

Example Sentences

Although the perception lingers that violent crime is rampant in Los Angeles, statistically speaking murder is less common that it has been in decades.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Once again, I call on federal agents to target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street, going to church, or putting up Christmas decorations," he wrote.

Read more on BBC

The government is in talks with Syria's new Islamist-led government to resume deportations of violent criminals.

Read more on Barron's

Gonzalez alleged that a man approached them, “started yelling violent homophobic slurs” and “raised a gun from his lap and fired.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Life with him was chaotic and often violent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• brutal 
• crazy 
• cruel 
• fierce 
• homicidal 
• hysterical 
• murderous 
• passionate 
• potent 
• powerful 
• savage 
• uncontrollable 
• vicious