violent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
    • a violent attack
    • a violent person
    • violent feelings
    • a violent rage
    • felt a violent dislike
  2. adjective satellite effected by force or injury rather than natural causes
    • a violent death
  3. adjective satellite (of colors or sounds) intensely vivid or loud
    wild.
    • a violent clash of colors
    • her dress was a violent red
    • a violent noise
    • wild colors
    • wild shouts
  4. adjective satellite marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid
    fierce; vehement; tearing; trigger-happy.
    • fierce loyalty
    • in a tearing rage
    • vehement dislike
    • violent passions
  5. adjective satellite characterized by violence or bloodshed
    crimson; red.
    • writes of crimson deeds and barbaric days"- Andrea Parke
    • fann'd by Conquest's crimson wing"- Thomas Gray
    • convulsed with red rage"- Hudson Strode

WordNet

Vi"o*lent adjective
Etymology
F., from L. violentus, from vis strength, force; probably akin to Gr. a muscle, strength.
Definitions
  1. Moving or acting with physical strength; urged or impelled with force; excited by strong feeling or passion; forcible; vehement; impetuous; fierce; furious; severe; as, a violent blow; the violent attack of a disease.
    Float upon a wild and violent sea. Shak.
    A violent cross wind from either coast. Milton.
  2. Acting, characterized, or produced by unjust or improper force; outrageous; unauthorized; as, a violent attack on the right of free speech.
    To bring forth more violent deeds. Milton.
    Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life. Shak.
  3. Produced or effected by force; not spontaneous; unnatural; abnormal.
    These violent delights have violent ends. Shak.
    No violent state can be perpetual. T. Burnet.
    Ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void. Milton.
    Syn. -- Fierce; vehement; outrageous; boisterous; turbulent; impetuous; passionate; severe; extreme.
Vi"o*lent noun
Definitions
  1. An assailant. Obs. Dr. H. More.
Vi"o*lent transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. violenter.
Definitions
  1. To urge with violence. Obs. Fuller.
Vi"o*lent intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be violent; to act violently. Obs.
    The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste, An violenteth in a sense as strong As that which causeth it. Shak.

Webster 1913