Entry Word: violent

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <a violent fight that left several people badly hurt>

Synonyms explosive, ferocious, fierce, furious, hot, rabid, rough, stormy, tempestuous, turbulent, volcanic

Related Words brutal, savage, vicious; antagonistic, hostile; aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, gladiatorial, quarrelsome; frantic, frenzied, mad; destructive, ruinous

Near Antonyms calm, pacific, serene, tranquil; nonbelligerent, unaggressive, unassertive

Antonyms nonviolent, peaceable, peaceful

2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <a violent thunderstorm> — see intense
3 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <my grandmotherʼs imminent arrival provoked a violent effort to get the place cleaned up> — see furious 1