violentadjective
uk/ˈvaɪə.lənt/us/ˈvaɪə.lənt/violent adjective (CAUSING HURT)
B2 using force to hurt or attack:
He yells a lot but I don't think he's ever been physically violent towards her.
B2 used to describe a situation or event in which people are hurt or killed:
a violent crime
There was a violent clash/confrontation between rival supporters after the match.
The more violent scenes in the film were cut when it was shown on television.
Her family is still trying to come to terms with her violent death (= death caused suddenly and unexpectedly by the use of physical force, especially murder).
More examples
- Many football fans are unfairly accused of violent behaviour.
- Although sexual and violent crimes have increased by 10%, they remain only a tiny fraction of the total number of crimes committed each year.
- Some scenes are violent and may disturb younger viewers.
- There were violent confrontations between police and demonstrators.
- The woman had fled from her violent husband to a women's refuge in Chelmsford.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Violent or aggressive
- aggressive
- aggro
- all hell breaks loose idiom
- atrocious
- atrocity
- confrontation
- desperate
- flex your muscles idiom
- forced
- forcible
- frenzied
- gay-basher
- hostile
- running with blood idiom
- sabre-rattling
- savage
- savagely
- savagery
- steep
- steeped in blood idiom
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violent adjective (STRONG)
C2 sudden and powerful:
He has a violent temper.
violent thunderstorms
The speaker launched into a violent attack on (= spoke forcefully against) the president's policies.
[ before noun ] A violent colour is extremely or unpleasantly bright:
She was wearing a violent pink sweater and orange trousers.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physically strong and powerful
- (as) tough as old boots idiom
- almighty
- billy-o
- brute
- burly
- elemental
- high-octane
- industrial-strength
- invincible
- invulnerable
- muscle-flexing
- omnipotent
- reckon
- stout
- stoutly
- sturdy
- superhuman
- to be reckoned with idiom
- tough
- toughie
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
The qualities of colour