violent

vi·o·lent

adjective \-lənt\

Definition of VIOLENT

1

: marked by extreme force or sudden intense activity <a violent attack>

2

a : notably furious or vehement <a violent denunciation>

b : extreme, intense <violent pain> <violent colors>

3

: caused by force : not natural <a violent death>

4

a : emotionally agitated to the point of loss of self-control <became violent after an insult>

b : prone to commit acts of violence <violent prison inmates>

— vi·o·lent·ly adverb

Examples of VIOLENT

1. They witnessed a violent struggle between police and protesters.
2. The peaceful protest suddenly turned violent.
3. The city has experienced an increase in violent crime in the past year.
4. The final scene was extremely violent.
5. She suffered a violent death in a car accident.
6. The patient suddenly became violent and had to be restrained.
7. He's not a particularly violent person.

Origin of VIOLENT

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin violentus; akin to Latin vis strength — more at vim

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to VIOLENT

Synonyms

bang-bang, blood-and-guts, convulsive, cyclonic, explosive, ferocious, fierce, furious, hammer-and-tongs, hot, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), paroxysmal, rabid, rough, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, volcanic

Antonyms

nonviolent, peaceable, peaceful

Related Words

barbarous, brutal, savage, vicious; antagonistic, hostile; aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, gladiatorial, pugnacious, quarrelsome, truculent; combustible, volatile; agitated, frantic, frenzied, mad; cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), destructive, ruinous

Near Antonyms

calm, halcyon, pacific, serene, tranquil; nonbelligerent, unaggressive