violent
adjective
vi·o·lent
ˈvī-ə-lənt 
1
a(1)
: marked by the use of usually harmful or destructive physical force
a violent attack
violent crime
The peaceful demonstration turned violent.
(2)
: showing or including violence
violent movies
b
: extremely powerful or forceful and capable of causing damage
violent storms
violent coughing
2
: caused by physical force or violence : not natural
a violent death
3
a
: emotionally agitated to the point of using harmful physical force
became violent after an insult
b
: prone to commit acts of violence
violent prison inmates
violently
adverb
Examples of violent in a Sentence
They witnessed a violent struggle between police and protesters.
The peaceful protest suddenly turned violent.
The city has experienced an increase in violent crime in the past year.
The final scene was extremely violent.
She suffered a violent death in a car accident.
The patient suddenly became violent and had to be restrained.
He's not a particularly violent person.
Recent Examples on the Web
Anger over that disparity boiled over in late December as the nation’s currency fell to an all-time low, setting off mass protests and a violent crackdown by Tehran.
—
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
According to a study by libertarian think tank the Cato Institute, around 3 out of 4 people placed into ICE custody have no criminal convictions; nearly half had no conviction or pending charges, and 5% had a violent criminal conviction.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 21 Jan. 2026
The Wave, Coyote Buttes Imagine sand dunes in a violent wind storm coaxed into dramatic swirls and forms—then freezing in place forever.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026
Uthmeier is now calling on the Florida Legislature to narrow the insanity defense to ensure violent offenders stay confined in either prison or mental institutions.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
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Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
According to a study by libertarian think tank the Cato Institute, around 3 out of 4 people placed into ICE custody have no criminal convictions; nearly half had no conviction or pending charges, and 5% had a violent criminal conviction.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 21 Jan. 2026
The Wave, Coyote Buttes Imagine sand dunes in a violent wind storm coaxed into dramatic swirls and forms—then freezing in place forever.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026
Uthmeier is now calling on the Florida Legislature to narrow the insanity defense to ensure violent offenders stay confined in either prison or mental institutions.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violent. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
violent
adjective
vi·o·lent
ˈvī-ə-lənt
1
: marked by great force or sudden activity
a violent attack of coughing
violent storms
2
a
: especially furious or emotional
a violent denial of guilt
b
: intense sense 1
violent pain
3
: caused by force
a violent death
4
a
: acting with or characterized by harmful physical force : exercising or marked by violence
a violent person
violent actions
b
: having a tendency to carry out acts of violence
violent prison inmates
violently
adverb
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