violent
adjective
vi·o·lent
ˈvī-ə-lənt 
1
a(1)
: marked by the use of usually harmful or destructive physical force
a violent attack
violent crime
The peaceful demonstration turned violent.
(2)
: showing or including violence
violent movies
b
: extremely powerful or forceful and capable of causing damage
violent storms
violent coughing
2
: caused by physical force or violence : not natural
a violent death
3
a
: emotionally agitated to the point of using harmful physical force
became violent after an insult
b
: prone to commit acts of violence
violent prison inmates
violently
adverb
Examples of violent in a Sentence
They witnessed a violent struggle between police and protesters.
The peaceful protest suddenly turned violent.
The city has experienced an increase in violent crime in the past year.
The final scene was extremely violent.
She suffered a violent death in a car accident.
The patient suddenly became violent and had to be restrained.
He's not a particularly violent person.
Recent Examples on the Web
Since 2014, there have been nearly two dozen violent extremist attacks in Canada resulting in 29 deaths and at least 60 injuries, according to Rogers.
—
Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The charge is tied to accusations that the boy had violent outbursts at his elementary school in White House.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Nov. 2025
The Boys From Biloxi is a high-stakes family crime drama centered on two childhood best friends – one a prosecutor, the other a mob heir – who are forced onto a violent collision course by the sins of their fathers and for the soul of their city.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025
But criminal background checks conducted by the Idaho Statesman found that most of the men transported to detention centers had no history of violent convictions.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violent
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Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The charge is tied to accusations that the boy had violent outbursts at his elementary school in White House.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Nov. 2025
The Boys From Biloxi is a high-stakes family crime drama centered on two childhood best friends – one a prosecutor, the other a mob heir – who are forced onto a violent collision course by the sins of their fathers and for the soul of their city.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025
But criminal background checks conducted by the Idaho Statesman found that most of the men transported to detention centers had no history of violent convictions.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violent
Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violent. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
violent
adjective
vi·o·lent
ˈvī-ə-lənt
1
: marked by great force or sudden activity
a violent attack of coughing
violent storms
2
a
: especially furious or emotional
a violent denial of guilt
b
: intense sense 1
violent pain
3
: caused by force
a violent death
4
a
: acting with or characterized by harmful physical force : exercising or marked by violence
a violent person
violent actions
b
: having a tendency to carry out acts of violence
violent prison inmates
violently
adverb
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