1
as in brutality
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property
an act of violence caused the window to be shattered
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intensity
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression)
taken aback by the violence of her denial of any wrongdoing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in emotion
depth of feeling
some people were taken aback by the violence with which the magazine's art critic attacked the exhibition
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of violence
Presenting recorded bodycam footage of the events leading up to the murder and the aftermath (including Lorincz frequently calling the police on her neighbors), the film provides a harrowing look at racial violence and systemic bias.
—
Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
The story of our nation is pockmarked and littered with atrocities, oppression, terror, and violence.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2026
Mélenchon has condemned the violence and insisted that his party bore no blame for the tragedy.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Is violence or ransom money the motive for the crime?
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violence
Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
The story of our nation is pockmarked and littered with atrocities, oppression, terror, and violence.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2026
Mélenchon has condemned the violence and insisted that his party bore no blame for the tragedy.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Is violence or ransom money the motive for the crime?
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violence
Noun
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District Judge Dayna Blazey delivered the ruling before a packed courtroom, closing a dark chapter for the men, their families and a city long haunted by the brutality of the crime.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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The declaration was aimed at closing a dark chapter for the men and their families, and for a city that was shaken by the brutality of the crime and investigators' inability to solve it for decades.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That petition — an effort to bar a young woman from a university because of her decision about which country to represent in an international sporting competition — reflects the intensity of the backlash.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
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Even with the intensity, Corral said the coaching staff keeps things fun, too.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The daily routines that seem basic and intuitive to use hold a complex range of emotions for our toddlers—everything from fear to disgust to excitement.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
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Employees and customers exchange many words, but none of them bring out emotions – these are inorganic exchanges.—
Blake Simons,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This, after playing through that ankle injury — and a broken finger, and torn rib cartilage — to win World Series MVP honors in 2024.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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The six were rescued from the remote backcountry hours later, and two had injuries that were not life-threatening.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The UConn athletic department acted fast after coach Dan Hurley – and Georgetown coach Ed Cooley – commented on the lack of enthusiasm from the home crowd and some empty seats at men’s basketball games this season.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
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Sámi filmmaker Elisabeth Rasmussen follows the impressive results of his research, which costs peanuts compared to the enormous budget poured into comparable space missions, with equal zeal and enthusiasm.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There's fear the cases are widely underreported, and the airline industry and authorities aren't aggressively tracking in-air assaults.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Surprise, surprise, JPMorgan Chase and other big banks survived this outrageous assault upon their prerogatives.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Hamlin’s success has been built on aggressiveness, composure and a sixth sense at high speeds.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Feb. 2026
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Way, meanwhile, enjoys watching Katie’s aggressiveness.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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What first reads like random abuse escalates into a relentless campaign of terror against Mats and his family, as the situation begins to uncover a dark, multi-layered story rooted more than 40 years earlier.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
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But also the pesky ones, like your terror and your existential dread.—
Catherine Mevs,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Violence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violence. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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