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

Mark Ruffalo plays FBI agent Tom Brandis, who forms a task force to apprehend a group of criminals as they carry out a string of violent robberies targeting drug houses.

From Los Angeles Times

Watching “I Know This Much Is True” invites those of us keeping up with the latest TV releases to ponder how much prestige series productions worship tragedy – violent, miserable, and plain old funky.

From Salon

After a series of unfortunate eventsand increasingly violent visitations, a media frenzy surrounds them and the Warrens turn up to rid the house of creepy crawlies.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s a search for an image that’s less violent than what people normally show today, something less aggressive, less avant-garde. What I’m taking from the past is a sense of reassurance.”

From Los Angeles Times

They turned violent after young motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was killed when he was run over by a police vehicle.

From BBC

Related Words

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