vehemence

noun

ve·​he·​mence ˈvē-ə-mən(t)s How to pronounce vehemence (audio)
: the quality or state of being vehement : intensity

Examples of vehemence in a Sentence

the vehemence in her voice when she insisted that she never gossiped surprised me every cause that she pursues is pursued with great vehemence
Recent Examples on the Web Or, worse, when that world is breaking down with such vehemence that the air seems to grow more toxic by the minute? Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 The volume and vehemence of the dissents in the Island Trees decision were perhaps a reflection of the times. Fabio Bertoni, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2023 Other messages registered a sense of alarm — not over Mr. West’s offensive public statements or behavior, which seemed not to have deterred shoe sales, but over his shifting, outsize expectations and his vehemence in their private dealings. Megan Twohey, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2023 Tumulty, who knew Fall’s vehemence had very little to do with Mexico, decided to go all in, agreeing to a meeting that very day, December 5, at 2:30 in the afternoon. Rebecca Boggs Roberts, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2023 Throughout her career, the richness of O’Connor’s music was often surpassed by the vehemence and scorch of her politics. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 27 July 2023 Still, the vehemence of the opposition to the Qingdao partnership surprised the Kiel City Council president, Hans-Werner Tovar, who oversaw the start of partnerships with two other cities. Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 10 May 2023 The vehemence of this rhetoric, many critics suggest, has more to do with summoning antisemitic canards than any actual political critique. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2023 The vehemence with which the question is posed these days seems linked to a turn to pessimism across the West. Matti Friedman, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vehemence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vemance, vehemens, borrowed from Middle French vehemence, borrowed from Latin vehementia "violent movement, intensity," from vehement-, vehemens "violent, vehement" + -ia -ia entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vehemence was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near vehemence

Cite this Entry

“Vehemence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vehemence. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vehemence

noun
ve·​he·​mence ˈvē-ə-mən(t)s How to pronounce vehemence (audio)
: the quality or state of being vehement

More from Merriam-Webster on vehemence

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