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
Synonyms
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
The shooting is the latest in a recent string of violent incidents on the L.A. Metro system.
—
Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2024
For a movie about a violent motorcycle gang, The Bikeriders has a surprisingly moving love story at its center.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 22 June 2024
One of the region’s most violent criminal groups, the Kokorat San Ras gang was recently highlighted by a U.N. panel of experts in a report to help guide the Security Council’s decisions on sanctions.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 June 2024
In Griselda, Sofía Vergara leaves behind her comedic roots and steps into the violent, backstabbing world of her eponymous character, a real-life drug lord becoming increasingly deranged over the course of the six-part miniseries.
—Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for violent 
Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2024
For a movie about a violent motorcycle gang, The Bikeriders has a surprisingly moving love story at its center.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 22 June 2024
One of the region’s most violent criminal groups, the Kokorat San Ras gang was recently highlighted by a U.N. panel of experts in a report to help guide the Security Council’s decisions on sanctions.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 June 2024
In Griselda, Sofía Vergara leaves behind her comedic roots and steps into the violent, backstabbing world of her eponymous character, a real-life drug lord becoming increasingly deranged over the course of the six-part miniseries.
—Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for violent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'violent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violent. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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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