nonviolent
adjective
non·vi·o·lent
ˌnän-ˈvī-ə-lənt 
: abstaining or free from violence
nonviolently
adverb
Examples of nonviolent in a Sentence
He argued that nonviolent drug offenders should receive shorter sentences.
Recent Examples on the Web
The administration’s aggressive enforcement push has drawn scrutiny after reports that nonviolent immigrants with valid visas were detained during recent operations.
—
Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025
Johnson, a grandmother, was a nonviolent offender who spent 21 years in federal prison after being convicted in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 9 Nov. 2025
The nonviolent protest at the Common on Saturday took place after last week’s pro-Palestinian rally in which protesters assaulted Boston Police officers, one of whom suffered a broken nose that required reconstructive surgery.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Some demonstrators wore yellow – a symbol of unity and a reference to other nonviolent resistance movements, according to organizers.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonviolent
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Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025
Johnson, a grandmother, was a nonviolent offender who spent 21 years in federal prison after being convicted in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 9 Nov. 2025
The nonviolent protest at the Common on Saturday took place after last week’s pro-Palestinian rally in which protesters assaulted Boston Police officers, one of whom suffered a broken nose that required reconstructive surgery.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Some demonstrators wore yellow – a symbol of unity and a reference to other nonviolent resistance movements, according to organizers.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonviolent
Cite this Entry
“Nonviolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonviolent. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nonviolent
adjective
non·vi·o·lent
(ˈ)nän-ˈvī-ə-lənt
1
: not using violence : peaceful
2
: of, relating to, or marked by nonviolence
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