violently
Americanadverb
-
in a way that involves uncontrolled or destructive force.
He struck the table violently with his clenched fist and shouted for more.
Dramatic video shows soldiers violently removing voters from polling stations.
-
in an intense or extreme way.
He was violently ill after ten minutes, but soon recovered fully.
We were awoken early in the morning when the house began shaking violently.
Other Word Forms
- overviolently adverb
- quasi-violently adverb
- ultraviolently adverb
- unviolently adverb
Etymology
Origin of violently
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.
However, after the collar levels reset next week, markets should react less violently to daily news.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026
In a post on social media, he said Washington "knew nothing" about the Israeli attack on South Pars, saying it had "violently lashed out" in "anger".
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
Instead of colliding violently, the two bodies gently come into contact and fuse, preserving their rounded shapes and creating the familiar snowman form.
From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026
The legendary U.S. ski racer revealed Wednesday that on the day after she crashed violently while competing at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, Vonn lost someone very close to her.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026
But just as they were staggering to their feet, the elevator changed directions and swerved violently round a corner.
From "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl
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.
