violent

adjective

ˈvī-ə-lənt How to pronounce violent (audio)
Definition of violentnext
1
as in ferocious
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity a violent explosion that left several buildings seriously damaged

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2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect a violent thunderstorm

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3
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity our guest's imminent arrival provoked a violent effort to get the place cleaned up

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4
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness prone to violent denunciation of anyone who disagrees with her violent brushstrokes that were a trademark of the abstract artist

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of violent On July 4, and one state over, violent flooding killed more than 130 people in central Texas. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 Later that month, an employee spoke anonymously with WSOC-TV about conditions at the complex, describing concerns about overcrowding, inadequate staffing and employees’ ability to manage multiple violent juveniles at once. — Nora O’Neill 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 At least 1,800 people were arrested this past weekend after violent groups clashed with law enforcement during nationwide protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Trump is correct that the United States has seen historic plunges in homicide, violent crime, robbery and property crime. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for violent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violent
  1. ferocious
  2. intense
  3. frantic
  4. aggressive
  5. turbulent
  6. intensive
  7. furious
  8. vigorous
Adjective
  • After the initial blast, which spews out gamma rays, a storm of radiation pours into the surrounding galaxy, creating a ferocious afterglow that burns in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The characters thrust and parry with ferocious wit in an upscale California desert setting that scenic designer Scott Pask generically satirizes as a category of social living.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • George Bonanno, a psychologist at Columbia University, explains that many people who have intense symptoms initially—such as nightmares and flashbacks—won’t develop PTSD.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Still, the competition among jewelers is becoming more intense, not only for sports team’s commissions but also to design ever flashier pieces with intricate details.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Keeping The Faith So all’s well that ends well, and frantic, for Halfway 2 Jesus, Rock’s 13th album and the follow-up to 2022’s angry, politically charged Bad Reputation.
    — Gary Graff, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Newly obtained 911 audio is shedding light on the frantic response when Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive in a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment in August.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of frantic
Adjective
  • While Chelsea tend to retreat after taking the lead, their opponents also become more aggressive in response, committing extra bodies forward and helping to create more open, end-to-end encounters.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The acquisition comes after the distributor’s founder and then-CEO, Andrew Karpen, died from an aggressive form of brain cancer at the age of 59 in May 2025.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Still, Saudi Arabia has viewed attendance at the event, and general support for the Gulf during turbulent times, as a loyalty test for global business leaders.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Zacharia’s time in China was just one of her career highlights that triggered intense media scrutiny following her brief and turbulent appointment as White House press secretary.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Atrium is also offering day hospital programs in which patients receive intensive treatment and return home at night.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Because schools would otherwise use that money to buy equipment, the proposal would most affect two-year technical schools with equipment-intensive programs like welding or automotive programs.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • Before long there were three squad cars with lights flashing parked in the drive, with a furious Grandpa Joe trying to sort out the trouble.
    — Kerry Kennedy, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The conflicts are raw and unresolved, and Churchill forces theatergoers to make up their own minds about the characters’ furious dialect.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of furious
Adjective
  • Federal physical activity guidelines recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening exercise on at least two days.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The society recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, with 300 minutes being ideal.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of vigorous

Browse Nearby Words

violence
violent
violently
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Cite this Entry

“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violent. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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