violent

1 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity a violent fight that left several people badly hurt Synonyms bang-bang, blood-and-guts, convulsive, cyclonic, explosive, ferocious, fierce, furious, hammer-and-tongs, hot, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), paroxysmal, rabid, rough, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, volcanic Related Words barbarous, brutal, savage, vicious; antagonistic, hostile; aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, gladiatorial, pugnacious, quarrelsome, truculent; combustible, volatile; agitated, frantic, frenzied, mad; cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), destructive, ruinous Near Antonyms calm, halcyon, pacific, serene, tranquil; nonbelligerent, unaggressive Antonyms nonviolent, peaceable, peaceful

2 extreme in degree, power, or effect a violent thunderstorm Synonyms acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, exquisite, fearful, fearsome, ferocious, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, intenseRelated Words accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened; emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified; stressed; exhaustive, thorough; harsh, rigorous, severeNear Antonyms feeble, weak; shallow, superficial; moderated, qualified; alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down); abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subduedAntonyms light, moderate, soft

3 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 delirious, ferocious, feverish, fierce, frantic, frenetic, frenzied, mad, rabid, furious, wildRelated Words concentrated, high-pressured, intense, intensive, vehement; excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, inordinate, lavish, overmuch, overweening, unconscionable, undue; crazed, crazy, demented, deranged, insane, irrational, lunatic, mad, maniacal (also maniac)Near Antonyms calm, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, subdued, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, untroubled; moderate, reasonable, temperate; casual, easygoing, low-pressure; balanced, sane, soundAntonyms relaxed

4 marked by or uttered with forcefulness prone to violent denunciation of anyone who disagrees with her Synonyms aggressive, assertive, dynamic, energetic, forceful, full-blooded, muscular, resounding, strenuous, vehement, vigorous, emphaticRelated Words decided, insistent, marked, pointed; absolute, categorical (also categoric), clear, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal; arresting, compelling, conspicuous, impelling, noticeable, strikingNear Antonyms guarded, mild, uncompelling, weak, wishy-washy; ambiguous, equivocal, halting, hesitant; understatedAntonyms nonassertive, nonemphatic, unemphatic