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.
Its winds, which reached 142 mph, shook the trees violently on their shallow roots.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
The scene in which Biff almost violently embraces Willy and tries—in vain—to make him discard his illusions scorches with its sadness.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
The share price has whipsawed violently over the past several months.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 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
Her legs trembled violently, then gave out beneath her.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
