violence

noun

vi·​o·​lence ˈvī-lən(t)s 

ˈvī-ə-

1

a

: the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy

b

: an instance of violent treatment or procedure

2

: injury by or as if by distortion, infringement, or profanation : outrage

3

a

: intense, turbulent, or furious and often destructive action or force

the violence of the storm

b

: vehement feeling or expression : fervor

also : an instance of such action or feeling

c

: a clashing or jarring quality : discordance

4

: undue alteration (as of wording or sense in editing a text)

Synonyms of violence

• brutality
• injury
• assault
• terror
• force
• compulsion
• attack

Examples of violence in a Sentence

They need to learn how to settle their arguments without resorting to violence.

movies filled with sex and violence

The violence of the storm caused great fear.

Recent Examples on the Web

The crackdown prompted alarm among radicals as signs increasingly showed the government treating political violence as a product of organized networks, not just individual defendants. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2026

Community leaders and advocates called for an end to gun violence, bullying and for Frimpong's killers to come forward. — CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

What readers are saying The comments express strong criticism of Israeli settler violence, with many labeling it as terrorism or ethnic cleansing rather than mere extremism. — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026

Take two guys, give them uproariously funny dialogue that splits the middle between Harold Pinter and David Mamet, add in few dashes of shocking violence, and let everything reach a full boil. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing violence

• anti-violence
• counter-violence
• domestic violence
• do violence to

Rhymes for violence

• nonviolence

Kids Definition

violence

noun

vi·​o·​lence ˈvī-ə-lən(t)s 

1

: the use of force in a way that harms a person or property

2

: great force or energy especially of a destructive kind

the violence of the storm caused great fear