# violent

/ˈvaɪəɫənt/ (US) · /vˈaɪələnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/violent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical aggression

adjective · CEFR B1

using physical force to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.

For teachers: characterised by the use of physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill.

- The police were called because the protest had become violent.
- The documentary examines the root causes of violent crime in urban centres, focusing on the intersection of poverty and systemic neglect.

### 2. powerful force or motion

adjective · CEFR B2

happening with a lot of sudden, strong force.

For teachers: involving or caused by extreme physical force or sudden, intense motion.

- The ship struggled to stay upright during the violent storm.
- The earthquake caused a violent shaking of the ground that lasted for nearly two minutes, toppling several older structures in the district.

### 3. extreme or intense

adjective · CEFR B2

very strong or severe, like a bad pain or a bright colour.

For teachers: characterised by an extreme degree of intensity, severity, or vividness.

- She woke up with a violent headache that made it hard to see.
- The artist used violent contrasts of orange and purple to convey the emotional turmoil of the scene.

## Examples

- The movie contains several violent scenes.
- The peaceful protest turned violent after a small group of people began throwing stones at the police.
- Meteorologists warned that the sudden drop in pressure would likely trigger a violent storm capable of causing significant structural damage to coastal properties.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.