Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt, injure, or kill people.
Twenty people were killed in the violence.
They threaten them with violence.
...domestic violence between family members.
Synonyms: brutality, bloodshed, savagery, fighting More Synonyms of violence
2. uncountable noun
If you do or say something with violence, you use a lot of force and energy in doing or saying it, often because you are angry.
[literary]
'There's no need,' Amy said, with sudden violence.
The violence in her tone gave Alistair a shock.
Synonyms: intensity, passion, fury, force More Synonyms of violence
More Synonyms of violence
violence in British English
(ˈvaɪələns)
noun
1.
the exercise or an instance of physical force, usually effecting or intended to effect injuries, destruction, etc
2.
powerful, untamed, or devastating force
the violence of the sea
3.
great strength of feeling, as in language, etc; fervour
4.
an unjust, unwarranted, or unlawful display of force, esp such as tends to overawe or intimidate
5. do violence to
Word origin
C13: via Old French from Latin violentia impetuosity, from violentusviolent
violence in American English
(ˈvaɪələns)
noun
1.
physical force used so as to injure, damage, or destroy; extreme roughness of action
2.
intense, often devastatingly or explosively powerful force or energy, as of a hurricane or volcano
3.
a.
unjust or callous use of force or power, as in violating another's rights, sensibilities, etc.
b.
the harm done by this
4.
great force or strength of feeling, conduct, or expression; vehemence; fury
5.
a twisting or wrenching of a sense, phrase, etc., so as to distort the original or true sense or form
to do violence to a text
6.
an instance of violence; violent act or deed
Word origin
ME < MFr < L violentia < violentus: see violent
COBUILD Collocations
violence
commit violence
condemn violence
condone violence
drunken violence
end violence
escape violence
ethnic violence
flee violence
fuel violence
gang violence
glorify violence
gratuitous violence
gun violence
halt the violence
mindless violence
provoke violence
quell the violence
racial violence
random violence
renounce violence
sectarian violence
street violence
terrorist violence
violence flared
violence is common
witness violence
youth violence
Examples of 'violence' in a sentence
violence
Too many people fail to take male domestic violence seriously.
The Sun (2016)
But not with excessive force or violence.
The Sun (2016)
They were often subjected to violence and had their homes used as stash houses.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Domestic violence is particularly absorbing because of its grey areas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The charity reported a sharp rise in alerts about youngsters suffering or witnessing physical violence and emotional abuse in the home.
The Sun (2016)
How about victims of domestic violence?
The Sun (2017)
Rough sleeping ruins lives - leaving people vulnerable to violence and abuse and taking a dreadful toll on their mental and physical health.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Where is the line between force and violence?
Christianity Today (2000)
Who does not realise that the violence is often gratuitous?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There were no signs of marital strife and no history of violence or erratic behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They had also come up with the idea of extreme violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This need stretches far beyond those who have to face physical violence.
Davey, Ray Rev. & Cole, John A Channel of Peace (1993)
Two more men were summoned and all used violence to force him into uniform.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They have often experienced violence and abuse.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The violence of their language did surprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Our campaign to raise awareness of this crime has been praised by domestic violence charities.
The Sun (2009)
Previous British leaders helped to establish the international laws protecting people fleeing violence and persecution.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The violence has killed more than 300 people and the wider suffering has been terrible.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
My brother doesn't call people to do violence against others.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Violence, abusive behaviour and stealing from the family home are unacceptable.
Cohen, Julian & Kay, James Taking Drugs Seriously (1994)
Another 12 people were reportedly killed in violence across the country yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Quotations
All they that take the sword shall perish with the swordBible: St. Matthew
Keep violence in the mind Where it belongsBrian AldissBarefoot in the Head
In other languages
violence
British English: violence /ˈvaɪələns/ NOUN
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt or kill people.
Twenty people were injured in the violence.
American English: violence
Arabic: عُنْف
Brazilian Portuguese: violência
Chinese: 暴力
Croatian: nasilje
Czech: násilí
Danish: vold
Dutch: geweld
European Spanish: violencia
Finnish: väkivalta
French: violence
German: Gewalt
Greek: βία
Italian: violenza
Japanese: 暴力
Korean: 폭력
Norwegian: vold
Polish: przemoc
European Portuguese: violência
Romanian: violență
Russian: насилие
Latin American Spanish: violencia
Swedish: våld
Thai: ความรุนแรง
Turkish: şiddet
Ukrainian: жорстокість
Vietnamese: tính bạo lực
All related terms of 'violence'
end violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
flee violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure, or kill people.
fuel violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
gang violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
gun violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
self-violence
suicide
commit violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
escape violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
ethnic violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
racial violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
random violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
street violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
violence flared
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
youth violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
condemn violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure, or kill people.
condone violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
domestic violence
Domestic violence is violence that takes place in the home , especially by one person against their partner .
do violence to
to inflict harm upon; damage or violate
drunken violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
glorify violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
mindless violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
provoke violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
renounce violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
sectarian violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
terrorist violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
witness violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
acquaintance violence
impulsive aggressive behaviour towards someone with whom the attacker has been in contact
gratuitous violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
halt the violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
quell the violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
violence is common
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
domestic violence charity
A charity is an organization which raises money in order to help people who are sick or very poor , or who have a disability .
non-violent
Non-violent methods of bringing about change do not involve hurting people or causing damage.
Chinese translation of 'violence'
violence
(ˈvaɪələns)
n(u)
暴力 (bàolì)
(liter, = strength) 猛力 (měnglì)
1 (noun)
Definition
the use of physical force, usually intended to cause injury or destruction
Twenty people were injured in the violence.
Synonyms
brutality
The Roman arena played host to appalling brutality in the name of entertainment.
bloodshed
savagery
the sheer savagery of war
fighting
terrorism
frenzy
thuggery
destructiveness
bestiality
an enemy whose bestiality they knew only too well
strong-arm tactics (informal)
rough handling
bloodthirstiness
murderousness
2 (noun)
Definition
great force or strength in action, feeling, or expression
I staggered back due to the violence of the blow.
Synonyms
force
slamming the door behind her with all her force
power
the power of his rhetoric
strength
He was surprised at the strength of his own feeling.
might
The might of the army could prove a decisive factor.
ferocity
surprised by the ferocity of the attack
brute force
fierceness
forcefulness
powerfulness
3 (noun)
Definition
great force or strength in action, feeling, or expression
‘There's no need,’ she snapped with sudden violence.
Synonyms
intensity
His intensity, and the ferocity of his feelings alarmed me.
passion
Her eyes were blazing with passion.
fury
We were lashed by the full fury of the elements.
force
I took a step back from the force of his rage.
cruelty
laws against cruelty to animals
severity
fervour
an outbreak of religious fervour
sharpness
harshness
vehemence
He spoke loudly and with more vehemence than he had intended.
4 (noun)
The house was destroyed in the violence of the storm.
Synonyms
power
turbulence
a region often beset by religious turbulence
wildness
raging
tumult
the recent tumult in global financial markets
roughness
boisterousness
storminess
acuteness
Numbers in distress are rising, as is the acuteness of the worst conditions.
Quotations
All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword [Bible: St. Matthew]Keep violence in the mind Where it belongs [Brian Aldiss – Barefoot in the Head]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acuteness
Numbers in distress are rising, as is the acuteness of the worst conditions.
Synonyms
sharpness,
violence,
intensity,
severity,
poignancy,
suddenness,
fierceness,
shrillness,
exquisiteness,
powerfulness,
intenseness,
distressingness
in the sense of bestiality
Definition
brutal behaviour, character, or action
an enemy whose bestiality they knew only too well
Synonyms
brutality,
atrocity,
cruelty,
ferocity,
savagery,
ruthlessness,
barbarism,
depravity,
inhumanity,
barbarity,
viciousness,
carnality,
brutishness,
beastliness,
bloodthirstiness,
savageness
in the sense of cruelty
laws against cruelty to animals
Synonyms
brutality,
spite,
severity,
savagery,
ruthlessness,
sadism,
depravity,
harshness,
inhumanity,
barbarity,
callousness,
viciousness,
bestiality,
heartlessness,
brutishness,
spitefulness,
bloodthirstiness,
murderousness,
mercilessness,
fiendishness,
hardheartedness
Synonyms of 'violence'
violence
Explore 'violence' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ferocity
surprised by the ferocity of the attack
Synonyms
savagery,
violence,
cruelty,
brutality,
ruthlessness,
inhumanity,
wildness,
barbarity,
viciousness,
fierceness,
rapacity,
bloodthirstiness,
savageness,
ferociousness
in the sense of fervour
Definition
great intensity of feeling or belief
an outbreak of religious fervour
Synonyms
ardour,
passion,
enthusiasm,
excitement,
intensity,
warmth,
animation,
zeal,
eagerness,
vehemence,
earnestness,
fervency
in the sense of fierceness
Synonyms
storminess,
violence,
turbulence,
bluster,
destructiveness,
roughness,
tempestuousness
in the sense of fury
Definition
uncontrolled violence
We were lashed by the full fury of the elements.
Synonyms
violence,
force,
power,
intensity,
severity,
turbulence,
ferocity,
savagery,
vehemence,
fierceness,
tempestuousness
in the sense of might
Definition
great power, strength, or vigour
The might of the army could prove a decisive factor.
Synonyms
power,
force,
energy,
ability,
strength,
capacity,
efficiency,
capability,
sway,
clout (informal),
vigour,
prowess,
potency,
efficacy,
valour,
puissance,
hard power
in the sense of passion
Definition
any strongly felt emotion
Her eyes were blazing with passion.
Synonyms
emotion,
feeling,
fire,
heat,
spirit,
transport,
joy,
excitement,
intensity,
warmth,
animation,
zeal,
zest,
fervour,
eagerness,
rapture,
ardour
in the sense of savagery
Definition
viciousness and cruelty
the sheer savagery of war
Synonyms
cruelty,
brutality,
ferocity,
ruthlessness,
sadism,
inhumanity,
barbarity,
viciousness,
bestiality,
fierceness,
bloodthirstiness
in the sense of strength
Definition
degree of intensity or concentration of colour, light, sound, or flavour
He was surprised at the strength of his own feeling.
Synonyms
force,
power,
intensity,
energy,
depth,
vehemence,
intenseness
in the sense of tumult
Definition
a state of confusion and excitement
the recent tumult in global financial markets
Synonyms
disturbance,
trouble,
chaos,
turmoil,
storms,
upset,
stir,
disorder,
excitement,
unrest,
upheaval,
havoc (informal),
mayhem,
strife,
disarray,
turbulence,
ferment,
agitation,
convulsions,
bedlam
in the sense of turbulence
Definition
a state or condition of confusion, movement, or agitation
a region often beset by religious turbulence
Synonyms
confusion,
turmoil,
unrest,
instability,
storm,
boiling,
disorder,
upheaval,
agitation,
commotion,
pandemonium,
tumult,
roughness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of vehemence
He spoke loudly and with more vehemence than he had intended.