violence

noun

ˈvī-lən(t)s How to pronounce violence (audio)
Definition of violencenext
1
as in brutality
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property an act of violence caused the window to be shattered

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intensity
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) taken aback by the violence of her denial of any wrongdoing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in emotion
depth of feeling some people were taken aback by the violence with which the magazine's art critic attacked the exhibition

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of violence Against this backdrop, media coverage of Kashmir often focuses on violence and division. — Peter Dziedzic, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 Khomeini's fatwa led to a multimillion-dollar bounty and several other acts of violence, including the 1991 murder of Rushdie's Japanese translator, Hitoshi Igarashi. — Steve Gorman, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Duke responds with an act of impulsive violence that leads to nearly eight years of incarceration. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 Spain is a main point of arrival into Europe for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or an escape from violence in their home countries. — ABC News, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for violence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violence
  1. brutality
  2. intensity
  3. emotion
  4. injury
  5. aggressiveness
  6. enthusiasm
  7. assault
  8. warmth
Noun
  • Crump and the family thanked the community for its support and encouraged people to continue to speak out against police brutality.
    — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • The novel also alludes to contemporary examples of violence in the country’s current, democratic system, gesturing to the ways in which brutality persists in Brazil as state and corporate power continue to commit violence with near impunity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
Definition of brutality
Noun
  • Ionescu was held scoreless in the second quarter as the home team turned its defensive intensity up a notch and carried a 56-53 lead into the locker room thanks to Burrell’s 13 points and Brink’s 11.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • Compared with the blues styles of other Southern regions, Delta blues was distinguished by its emotional intensity, which was projected through the lyrics of the songs and underscored by the players’ often aggressive attack on the guitar strings.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Definition of intensity
Noun
  • His cinematic and visual practices share a common exploration of identity, emotion, and human complexity.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 July 2026
  • Newman takes a moment to let the emotion in her voice settle.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Definition of emotion
Noun
  • Penix was still waiting to be fully cleared from his ACL tear and Tagovailoa did not participate because of an injury that had flared up in recent days, according to Stefanski.
    — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • Austin Summers, 31, of Meridian, was charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony injury to a child after a November 2025 crash on Interstate 84 near Nampa killed his 7-year-old son Graham.
    — Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
Definition of injury
Noun
  • If Yesavage can maintain that aggressiveness over the rest of the season, the Jays won’t have to worry about their funky righty.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Cannon breaks down the accountability, aggressiveness and the perspective needed to play effective defense after the team’s reset week.
    — John W. Davis, Oc Register, 5 July 2026
Definition of aggressiveness
Noun
  • The crowd skewed older, with plenty of fans who appeared decades removed from high school but sang along with the enthusiasm of teenagers.
    — Jamie Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • Costco's big changes to some parking lots The corporate honchos at Costco know all this bad parking karma can curb enthusiasm for shopping there.
    — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of enthusiasm
Noun
  • Prosecutors have charged the 15-year-old with one count each of first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
    — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 31 July 2026
  • There was no autopsy — only a physical examination that showed no evidence of defensive wounds or assault.
    — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • Ramsey tells me that designing the front of the home with hospitality in mind adds a level of warmth and approachability to a neighborhood.
    — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Astrologically, the sun is home in vivacious Leo, allowing for its warmth, charisma and creative expression to flow effortlessly.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of warmth

Browse Nearby Words

violations
violence
violent
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Cite this Entry

“Violence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violence. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on violence

Nglish: Translation of violence for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about violence

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