English Reference

Word

violently

Phoneticsvi·o·lent·ly

US/ˈvaɪəɫəntɫi/

UK/vˈaɪələntli/

Definitions

01with physical force

B2

adv. using a lot of physical force, often in a way that hurts someone or breaks something.

adv. with great physical force or aggression, often resulting in injury or damage.

“The wind blew so violently that it knocked down several old trees in the park.”

“The protesters clashed violently with the security forces outside the embassy, resulting in several arrests and minor injuries on both sides.”

Antonyms

02extremely or suddenly

B2

adv. very strongly or suddenly, often used for feelings or physical reactions like being sick.

adv. to an intense or extreme degree; often used to describe sudden physical reactions or powerful emotional shifts.

“He became violently ill after eating the spoiled seafood at the restaurant.”

“She disagreed violently with the board's decision, arguing that the new policy would alienate their most loyal customers.”

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“The British had invaded and colonially occupied the islands in 1833, he said, violently wrestling the territory from Argentina's hands.”
BBC News · 4 Sept 2026
“I stayed in my warm, dry apartment on the Upper West Side, watching trees swaying violently against the dark sky.”
The Guardian · 16 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English violently; equivalent to violent + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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