1
as in ferocious
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
a violent explosion that left several buildings seriously damaged
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a violent thunderstorm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of violent
On Thursday, the county police's violent crime and firearms unit, along with the SWAT team, served a search warrant at a home on Corey Avenue.
—
Patrick Damp, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Bowen does not have a violent criminal history.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Fearful of a violent confrontation, the London police escorted us out a back door.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2026
Both will be surrounded by streaks of bright, reflective material that were cast out during the violent asteroid impacts that formed the craters.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
Patrick Damp, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Bowen does not have a violent criminal history.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Fearful of a violent confrontation, the London police escorted us out a back door.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2026
Both will be surrounded by streaks of bright, reflective material that were cast out during the violent asteroid impacts that formed the craters.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violent
Adjective
-
Blown out, extravagant, dripping with ferocious malaise and desperation, but precisely arranged for the maximum possible emotional effect.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Otters are part of the weasel family (Mustelidae), which includes some of nature’s most ferocious pint-sized predators, such as badgers, martens, and wolverines.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Finally, consistent physical activity is more important than intense exercise.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
8 Apr. 2026
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The songs on the last few Bon Iver albums often sound like excerpts from a longer dialogue, at turns offhanded and intense, among collaborators.—
Mitch Therieau,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Another camera captures staff realizing what was going on, frantic to stop the patient and to help.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The rally caps a frantic 24 hours.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Orbán's nationalist party has become a model for MAGA populists, particularly for its aggressive stance on immigration.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Florian Wirtz was over aggressive in his initial press and then lacked urgency to help balance out City’s right-side overload, while neither Curtis Jones or Ryan Gravenberch drifted across.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In his first novel, Il salto con le aste (1989), Domenico Starnone presented two young boys determined to escape their turbulent Neapolitan backgrounds and assert themselves as free spirits and writers in the wider world.—
Tim Parks,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Soaring food and energy costs related to world conflicts, post-pandemic labor shortages, and consumers skittish about spending in this turbulent economy have become huge challenges for restaurateurs, Guez says.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But maintaining security over the strait would require a high-risk, resource-intensive operation that could be a yearslong American commitment.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
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The timetable that Kaufmann laid out Wednesday night envisions intensive design work through the end of this year, with construction starting in 2027.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The furious finish, in a game played in the midst of wind gusts that made 40 degrees feel much colder as afternoon turned to evening, came after the Padres lost an early lead and then got it back again.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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Texas battled back to within one possession late, but Betts’ block sealed it for a team that has come too far and endured too much to be bothered by even the most furious of comeback attempts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tell us that just a single engagement of moderate to vigorous physical activity can improve sleep, decrease anxiety and lower blood pressure.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Dwarf varieties, for example, can fit in a small bowl of water on your patio; larger, more vigorous lilies need a pool that has space for their roots to spread.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violent. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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