violent
adjective
vi·o·lent
ˈvī-ə-lənt 
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
violently
adverb
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
While some Hamas apologists have portrayed the word as benign, its real meaning is undeniably violent — and not just for Israelis.
—
Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, has written about hurricanes, tornadoes and violent weather for more than 30 years.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday at a college in Utah is the latest in a series of politically motivated violent acts just in recent months.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Most allow some violent content but place restrictions on especially gory and bloody videos and restrict such content from younger users.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violent
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, has written about hurricanes, tornadoes and violent weather for more than 30 years.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday at a college in Utah is the latest in a series of politically motivated violent acts just in recent months.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Most allow some violent content but place restrictions on especially gory and bloody videos and restrict such content from younger users.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violent
Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violent. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
violent
adjective
vi·o·lent
ˈvī-ə-lənt
1
: marked by great force or sudden activity
a violent attack of coughing
violent storms
2
a
: especially furious or emotional
a violent denial of guilt
b
: intense sense 1
violent pain
3
: caused by force
a violent death
4
a
: acting with or characterized by harmful physical force : exercising or marked by violence
a violent person
violent actions
b
: having a tendency to carry out acts of violence
violent prison inmates
violently
adverb
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