nonviolent

adjective

non·​vi·​o·​lent ˌnän-ˈvī-ə-lənt How to pronounce nonviolent (audio)
Synonyms of nonviolentnext
: abstaining or free from violence
nonviolently adverb

Examples of nonviolent in a Sentence

He argued that nonviolent drug offenders should receive shorter sentences.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The News reported last year that some nonviolent meth offenders prosecuted in North Texas are serving decades in prison. Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026 Per House Enrolled Act 1285, schools need to have made sure at least one employee present during the school year has received nonviolent crisis intervention training. Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 30 Dec. 2025 For a defendant with no criminal history who is convicted of a nonviolent crime, federal sentencing guidelines generally call for probation. John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 29 Dec. 2025 Golden’s father and grandfather asked the court for leniency, describing him as nonviolent and calling the incident a tragic mistake, WTLV-TV reported. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nonviolent

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonviolent was in 1905

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonviolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonviolent. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

nonviolent

adjective
non·​vi·​o·​lent (ˈ)nän-ˈvī-ə-lənt How to pronounce nonviolent (audio)
1
: not using violence : peaceful
2
: of, relating to, or marked by nonviolence
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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