VIOLENTLY Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

violently

adverb

as in sharply

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 violently Police said the suspect violently assaulted the victim and damaged her vehicle. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026 And at the same period of time, to violently target law-abiding, immigrant families and communities all across the country. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026 Explaining the impetus for her piece, Salcedo pointed to current conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Sudan, where people are being violently displaced en masse. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Nov. 2026 Edison mentions an abusive boyfriend of Leonora’s, and there is one scene, set at a public park, where some of Arlo’s suppressed trauma flares violently into the open. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026 Conservative Jewish influencer Lizzy Benichou was violently shoved to the concrete during an open debate at the University of Michigan. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026 Those marks can show whether the elevator was violently torn away or had an earlier weakness, such as metal fatigue. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026 The Falcons’ starting quarterback twirled a black string around his finger, then violently whipped it down after his first interception. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026 The sophomore season will continue following Webb, alongside Ben Whishaw as Sam Young and Sarah Lancashire as Reed, violently obtaining secrets for the highest bidder. — Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for violently

Adverb

Heather Diehl | Getty Images The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Tuesday released a sharply critical report on the federal government's handling of investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

— Dan Mangan, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2026
Oil prices have fallen sharply in recent days on hopes that the Iran conflict is fading, and gas costs are falling this month.

— Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of sharply

Adverb

The easy chemistry translates into the competition itself, where Levine notes that the four coaches are all fiercely competitive, but without the kind of animosity that can sometimes come with fighting over artists.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2026
Greg’s colleagues from over the years describe him as fiercely competitive, not just with work projects but also with hobbies like running and weight lifting.

— Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of fiercely

Adverb

Aston forcefully launched itself into the 21st century with the V12 Vanquish, which debuted in the fall of 2001 as the spitting image of a 1998 concept car.

— Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026
Wearing an open white shirt and blazer, Brand was called forward to the dock, said his name and forcefully denied all charges put to him by his barrister Ian Winter.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of forcefully

Adverb

Palestinian citizens of Israel, descendants of those who remained as the state of Israel was established in 1948 (when a majority of the prewar population was forcibly expelled or fled during the war) now make up about 20% of the population.

— Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
Guitarricadelafuente — who co-stars in the film alongside Milo Quifes and Carlos González — plays Sebastián, a young musician (trumpeter) forcibly recruited by Franco’s forces after surviving an attack during the Spanish Civil War.

— Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of forcibly

Adverb

Just a few feet away, Black vigorously nodded his head and pointed his fingers in the air in time with the music.

— Gina Vivinetto, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2026
Meanwhile, vigorously whisk 4 large egg yolks and ½ cup (100 g) sugar in a small heatproof bowl until smooth and lemon yellow, about 1 minute.

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of vigorously

Adverb

During winter, both kinglet species flit among tree branches, frequently hovering and energetically flicking their wings to startle insects into movement.

— Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Italians are fed energetically with the sustenance of beauty, ease, and joy.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of energetically

Browse Nearby Words

violent

violently

violinist

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Violently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violently. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of violently

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes