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
Gross grew up in a typical middle-class Jewish household in Long Island, but her father often flew into violent rages which her mother enabled.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The prominence of Hasan Piker, an apologist for terrorism and a proponent of authoritarian regimes, has revealed a much broader comfort on the left with illiberal ideas and violent methods.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
At 20, he was arrested after a routine traffic stop turned into a violent altercation with police.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Uganda has a reputation for welcoming foreigners, hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing violent conflict in neighboring countries such as Congo, Burundi and South Sudan.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
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.
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The prominence of Hasan Piker, an apologist for terrorism and a proponent of authoritarian regimes, has revealed a much broader comfort on the left with illiberal ideas and violent methods.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
At 20, he was arrested after a routine traffic stop turned into a violent altercation with police.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Uganda has a reputation for welcoming foreigners, hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing violent conflict in neighboring countries such as Congo, Burundi and South Sudan.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violent. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
