violent

adjective vi·o·lent \ ˈvī-ə-lənt \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: violent in a Sentence

Definition of violent

1 a (1) : marked by the use of usually harmful or destructive physical force

a violent attack

violent crime

The peaceful demonstration turned violent.

(2) : showing or including violence

violent movies

b : extremely powerful or forceful and capable of causing damage

violent storms

violent coughing

2 : caused by physical force or violence : not natural

a violent death

3 a : emotionally agitated to the point of using harmful physical force

became violent after an insult

b : prone to commit acts of violence

violent prison inmates

4 a : notably forceful, furious, or vehement

a violent argument

a violent denunciation

b : extreme, intense

violent pain

violent colors

—

violently

adverb

See violent defined for English-language learners

See violent defined for kids

Examples of violent in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of violent from the Web

Norton, alternately described in his community as a village police officer or a patrolman, was hired by this lakeside city of 860 in Northwest Alaska to watch for violent crimes and deadly accidents.

— Anchorage Daily News, "From criminal to cop, and back again, in Alaska’s most vulnerable villages," 9 June 2018
During his campaign and since taking office, President Donald Trump has vowed to cut violent crime and drug trafficking.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "Idaho gets 2 new federal prosecutors in fight against opioids, violent crime," 8 June 2018
Last year, the Justice Department, led by Mr. Sessions, assembled a task force to review links between violent crime and marijuana.

— eileen sullivan, New York Times, "Trump Says He’s Likely to Back Marijuana Bill, in Apparent Break With Sessions," 8 June 2018
Currently, officers can chase vehicles linked to violent crime and are allowed to pursue cars tied to drug dealing or reckless driving.

— bill glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "City leaders announce arrest following crash that killed Milwaukee police officer," 8 June 2018
A week after Kim Kardashian met with President Trump on behalf of Alice Marie Johnson, the 63-year-old grandmother who was serving a life sentence in federal prison for a non-violent drug crime is back at home with her family.

— Essence.com, "Alice Marie Johnson Gives First Interview Following Release From Prison, Plans to Pursue Prison Reform," 8 June 2018
For Romy, violent crime is not a Dostoyevskian drama of individual ethics.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "The bold, vivid worlds of Rachel Kushner’s novels," 7 June 2018
Until the recent spate of violence, Nicaragua had enjoyed far lower levels of violent crime than its Central American neighbors El Salvador and Honduras.

— juan montes, WSJ, "Nicaragua’s Political Crisis Descends Into ‘Dark Days’," 6 June 2018
The website cited a rate of 0.46 violent crimes per 1,000 residents in 2011.

— lucas phillips, BostonGlobe.com, "Body of man found in remote area of Holden," 2 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'violent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of violent

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

violent Synonyms

VIOLENT Defined for English Language Learners

violent

adjective

Definition of violent for English Language Learners

: using or involving the use of physical force to cause harm or damage to someone or something : showing violence
: caused by physical force or violence
: trying to physically attack someone because of anger