violent

adjective

vi·o·lent | \ ˈvī-ə-lənt

Definition of violent

1a(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

3a : 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

4a : notably forceful, furious, or vehement a violent argument a violent denunciation

b : extreme, intense violent pain violent colors

Other Words from violent Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about violent

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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 on the Web

Season two will be just as dramatic (and violent) as the first. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "'Big Little Lies' Season 2: Everything We Know So Far," 3 Jan. 2019 Japanese markets are closed for a holiday, leaving fewer institutional investors and traders to moderate any violent price swings. — Mike Bird, WSJ, "Yen Surges After Apple Upsets the Currency Cart," 3 Jan. 2019 Many of the Sudanese fighters come from the region of Darfur, where violent conflict consumed the countryside for more than a decade. — Amanda Sakuma, Vox, "Saudi Arabia is reportedly outsourcing its war in Yemen to child soldiers," 30 Dec. 2018 Next year is shaping up to be packed with notable releases, from the charming world of Animal Crossing to the violent action of Gears of War. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, "The 40 games we can’t wait to play in 2019," 26 Dec. 2018 Many women remarked that these techniques are no longer accurate in this new climate of violent environmental disasters. — Mélissa Godin, Teen Vogue, "Climate Change Is Creating a New Atmosphere of Gender Inequality for Women in Malawi," 20 Dec. 2018 In 1996, a violent Communist insurgency ravaged the country; over the next 10 years, some 17,000 people were killed, with civil war finally putting an end to the incumbent government and 240 years of the troubled Nepali monarchy. — Sophy Roberts, Condé Nast Traveler, "On Your Next Trip to Nepal, Rent the House Sir Edmund Hillary Loved," 20 Dec. 2018 Initially the protests by teachers in the country’s English-speaking region were peaceful, but in response to a government crackdown some separatists have begun waging a violent campaign. — Edwin Kindzeka Moki, The Seattle Times, "Cameroon military says it killed 7 suspected separatists," 18 Dec. 2018 Only 22 cities provided Brennan with data for crime and violent crime, but all 30 provided data for murder. — German Lopez, Vox, "Crime and murder fell in America’s most populous cities in 2018," 18 Dec. 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.