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
The country is incredibly violent.
—
Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Jay Jones, the North Carolina attorney general candidate who attracted sweeping condemnation for sending violent text messages calling for a leading North Carolina Republican to be killed, falls into that category.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025
Bandmates Callum, Melusine and Al are mostly toiling in obscurity until a violent act at one of their gigs goes viral.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Aza is a particularly violent individual who seeks out her former cult, while Marisol, let’s say to avoid spoiling anything, contains multitudes.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violent
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Jay Jones, the North Carolina attorney general candidate who attracted sweeping condemnation for sending violent text messages calling for a leading North Carolina Republican to be killed, falls into that category.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025
Bandmates Callum, Melusine and Al are mostly toiling in obscurity until a violent act at one of their gigs goes viral.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Aza is a particularly violent individual who seeks out her former cult, while Marisol, let’s say to avoid spoiling anything, contains multitudes.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violent
Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violent. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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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