1
as in ferocious
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
a violent explosion that left several buildings seriously damaged
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a violent thunderstorm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
our guest's imminent arrival provoked a violent effort to get the place cleaned up
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
prone to violent denunciation of anyone who disagrees with her violent brushstrokes that were a trademark of the abstract artist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of violent
Police sources said Heifler, who is an alleged member of the violent extremist organization Jewish Defense League, had plans to flee to Israel after the attack.
—
CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Oli early Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests in September that toppled the government and resulted in new elections.
—Binaj Gurubacharya, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
But Nelson writes that Watson left her violent husband and set out on her own, acquiring her cattle by legitimate means, not by stealing them.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Then an audience member shouted to the stage that the movie was too violent.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Oli early Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests in September that toppled the government and resulted in new elections.
—Binaj Gurubacharya, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
But Nelson writes that Watson left her violent husband and set out on her own, acquiring her cattle by legitimate means, not by stealing them.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Then an audience member shouted to the stage that the movie was too violent.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violent
Adjective
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Italy happens to be in similarly ferocious form, however, and has won seven of its last eight, albeit losing twice in as many encounters with qualifying group winner Norway last year.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Despite Iran’s remarkably ferocious response across the region – attacking neighbors like Oman who days earlier mediated between Tehran and Washington - weeks of intense airstrikes against its cities and military has not magically left it a hundred feet tall.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For the seventh year in a row, Walmart captured more money from Charlotte-area shoppers than any other grocery store, despite intense competition from local grocers like Harris Teeter and Food Lion.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
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Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Szeemann’s two Venice Biennales followed a decade of frantic exhibition-making across the globe, by Szeemann himself and by young professionals proud to call themselves independent curators.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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Brooks, for his part, equivocated … A bout of frantic rebranding ensued.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Brvenik, 44, was diagnosed in 2024 with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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Your sense of self takes the lead as the Moon, presently in your sign, opposes aggressive Mars across your partnership zone.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In his first novel, Il salto con le aste (1989), Domenico Starnone presented two young boys determined to escape their turbulent Neapolitan backgrounds and assert themselves as free spirits and writers in the wider world.—
Tim Parks,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Soaring food and energy costs related to world conflicts, post-pandemic labor shortages, and consumers skittish about spending in this turbulent economy have become huge challenges for restaurateurs, Guez says.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Xcel Energy is proposing a new rate class for data centers that the company says is intended to ensure that the energy-intensive facilities pay their way instead of passing along the costs to residential and small-business customers.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
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In the tech industry, AI models promise to make coding far easier and less labor intensive.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Britain and France were furious—the canal carried oil and other goods that were vital to European economies—and determined to take back control.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Conservative hardliners in the House woke up furious that their Senate counterparts had passed a deal without ICE and Border Patrol funding in the dead of night.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tell us that just a single engagement of moderate to vigorous physical activity can improve sleep, decrease anxiety and lower blood pressure.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Dwarf varieties, for example, can fit in a small bowl of water on your patio; larger, more vigorous lilies need a pool that has space for their roots to spread.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Violent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violent. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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