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
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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
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Recent Examples of violent
The dance began as a way for individuals to release and express anger and emotions in a safe, non-violent way.
—
Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
Two, politics has become more violent and violence is never the answer.
—Bob Cusack, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2026
For years, neighborhoods including LoDo and Ballpark have seen occasional violent incidents in the hours after nightclubs and bars close.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
If a player is especially tough and violent on the field, the Chargers will affix a magnetic hammer sticker next to his name on the draft board.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
Two, politics has become more violent and violence is never the answer.
—Bob Cusack, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2026
For years, neighborhoods including LoDo and Ballpark have seen occasional violent incidents in the hours after nightclubs and bars close.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
If a player is especially tough and violent on the field, the Chargers will affix a magnetic hammer sticker next to his name on the draft board.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violent
Adjective
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Behind a ferocious defense and an offense that couldn’t miss, the Knicks led by 25 points after one quarter, by as many as 51 points in the first half, and by as many as 61 points after halftime.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap have always been ferocious rappers, two goliaths spitting bilingual bars over gritty electronica with the couplet-completing precision of Run the Jewels.—
Dean Van Nguyen,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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By the final showdown, the production has made use of every bit of stage space, with sensational flying sequences (choreographed by Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant) that allow the vampires to float, hover, and—in one especially intense moment—dive from that bridge.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
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The moment has sparked an outpouring of empathy, with many pointing to the intense pressure drivers face on the job.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As oxygen runs out and the girl’s frantic parents demand action, cracks begin to appear in their story.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
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But some key details remain unknown, including exactly what went down during those frantic seconds at the hotel and what motivated him.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Gregory Bovino, the controversial head of aggressive enforcement activities in Chicago and Minneapolis, resigned from the agency.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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That approach, paired with more outreach to Black residents, may help increase the city’s affordable housing stock and close the gap in Black homeownership, though some city council members have urged a more aggressive push on affordable housing.—
Lily Carey,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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From the transformative power of novels to raising a Black son in a turbulent era, Ward offers a deeply moving testament to resilience, storytelling, and the enduring beauty of life.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
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Much like the rest of what’s already been a turbulent season, Orlando has made this playoff series as difficult as possible.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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The intensive, weeklong building sessions named after former President Jimmy Carter and his late wife Rosalynn have constructed roughly 5,000 homes in 14 countries since 1984.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
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The others, though some needed intensive treatments, are stable, the zoo said.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Officials were furious about a video Mamdani made in front of Griffin's building to justify taxing the owners of multimillion dollar apartments.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
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The latter song exemplifies Martin’s neck-snappingly furious style; his drumming simply never settles.—
Dean Van Nguyen,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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After a brief interlude of distracted play, the game got vigorous and testy.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
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Compact determinate tomato varieties, such as ‘Patio’, require much less space than a vigorous indeterminate grape tomato, such as ‘Valentine’.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violent. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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