violence
Americannoun
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swift and intense force.
the violence of a storm.
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rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment.
to die by violence.
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an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws.
to take over a government by violence.
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a violent act or proceeding.
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rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language.
the violence of his hatred.
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damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration.
to do editorial violence to a text.
noun
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the exercise or an instance of physical force, usually effecting or intended to effect injuries, destruction, etc
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powerful, untamed, or devastating force
the violence of the sea
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great strength of feeling, as in language, etc; fervour
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an unjust, unwarranted, or unlawful display of force, esp such as tends to overawe or intimidate
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to inflict harm upon; damage or violate
they did violence to the prisoners
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to distort or twist the sense or intention of
the reporters did violence to my speech
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Other Word Forms
- antiviolence adjective
- counterviolence noun
- self-violence noun
Etymology
Origin of violence
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin violentia; violent, -ence
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Speaking on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said there was a risk of further violence in the Middle East and an increasing death toll in Iran.
From BBC
International reactions to conflict have been mixed, with Pope Leo XIV urging both sides to end "the spiral of violence", while China condemned Khamenei's killing as a "serious violation of Iran's sovereignty".
From Barron's
Afghanistan said on Sunday that the war in neighbouring Iran would negatively impact the whole region and expressed "deep regret" over the violence flaring in multiple countries.
From Barron's
But Tehran always used this as evidence to claim it was him not them that took the path of violence over negotiations - Tom Bateman.
From BBC
The Dallas-based energy conglomerate accused Greenpeace of orchestrating violence and defamation during the controversial construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline nearly a decade ago.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
