nonviolent

adjective

non·​vi·​o·​lent ˌnän-ˈvī-ə-lənt How to pronounce nonviolent (audio)
: abstaining or free from violence
nonviolently adverb

Examples of nonviolent in a Sentence

He argued that nonviolent drug offenders should receive shorter sentences.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Protest organizers have urged attendees to remain calm and nonviolent. Correction and updates 6/13/25, 12:22 p.m and 12:52 p.m. Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, a ballot initiative that reclassified several nonviolent felonies, including shoplifting, theft and drug possession, as misdemeanors if the value involved was $950 or less. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2025 Kardashian reportedly pressured Trump to grant clemency to Alice Marie Johnson, who was sentenced to life for a nonviolent drug offense, in 2018, and lobbied for the First Step Act, which aimed to reduce prison sentences, including mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug convictions. Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025 However, the Trump administration's aggressive efforts have ensnared some immigrants accused of or charged with nonviolent offenses and some with no criminal record at all. Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for nonviolent

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonviolent was in 1905

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonviolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonviolent. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

nonviolent

adjective
non·​vi·​o·​lent (ˈ)nän-ˈvī-ə-lənt How to pronounce nonviolent (audio)
1
: not using violence : peaceful
2
: of, relating to, or marked by nonviolence
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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