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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The violent incident the suspect was earlier involved in took place in Simi Valley, police said. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 Brockton is tightening security for the next Cape Verde World Cup game after violent celebrations in the Massachusetts city during the opening games of the tournament. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 2 July 2026 Gil Flores, who worked as a night-shift security guard at the complex, was inside his small security cabin when the first violent tremor struck. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 But Braithwaite’s wry, wonderful novel paints a world where violent men are dealt with…sometimes by a certain sister. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 July 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
  • Known for his command of ferocious demon-quelling deities, Zhenwu remains a popular deity in Daoist exorcist rituals in places such as Taiwan.
    — Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • That’s because a parasite called Cyclospora, which can contaminate raw produce and causes ferocious and long-lasting bouts of diarrheal illness, is making people sick across several states.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
  • Treating fear and anxiety in dogs doesn’t always require a bigger yard or a more intense exercise routine.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • From the frantic frenzy surrounding royal nuptials to the way the internet dissected every possible clue from Zendaya and Tom Holland before they were revealed to have officially tied the knot, weddings like these are a cultural event.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 July 2026
  • On a remote Maine logging road, a couple out for a day of fishing unexpectedly encountered a black bear chasing a frantic moose calf toward their truck.
    — Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of frantic
Adjective
  • Jones more aggressive Jones’ three appearances in the California Classic were defined by a passive way of playing.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
  • Your dog is reactive or aggressive around other animals or strangers.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Kansas City’s team, which won a regular-season championship in 2024, is coming off a turbulent season.
    — Latif Love July 9, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
  • Mothers across America are navigating one of the most turbulent economic climates in recent memory, marked by rising costs and a volatile legislative environment.
    — Raquel Mitchell, Boston Herald, 8 July 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • But that is labor intensive, and when a fire burns thousands of acres, the time and cost involved can be too high.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Built for expansion Aurora was used to perform the computationally intensive quantum chemistry simulations integrated into ChemGraph, while the ALCF Inference Service provided access to open-weight language models hosted on Argonne systems.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • The Kang Kon was unveiled a month after the Choe Hyon in May 2025, but it was damaged during a botched launch at the northern port of Chongjin, prompting a furious response from Kim.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Croatia still furious Despite the correct decision being made, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić was far from happy, saying VAR had ruined the spirit of the game.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of furious
Adjective
  • Lettuce and other leafy foods with multiple layers pose a higher risk of contamination, but with a vigorous wash and peeling the outer layers, even the greens can be saved.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026
Definition of vigorous

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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 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of violent for Spanish Speakers

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