violent

/ˈvaɪ(ə)lənt/

/ˈvaɪələnt/

Something that's violent involves physical force or emotional intensity. If you hate violent movies, it means that you don't want to watch scenes of people being hurt or killed.

Physically violent behavior ends in someone getting hurt or something being destroyed or damaged. You can also have violent emotions, like a violent burst of anger toward the slow driver in front of you, and you can use violent to describe something that's visually intense, like a violent orange-colored minivan. The word has gained in force since developing from the Latin word violentia, which means "vehemence or impetuosity."

Definitions of violent

1. adjective

   acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
   “a violent person”

   “violent feelings”

   “a violent rage”

   “felt a violent dislike”

   synonyms:

   hostile

   characterized by enmity or ill will

   unpeaceful

   not peaceful

   convulsive

   resembling a convulsion in being sudden and violent

   ferocious, fierce, furious, savage

   marked by extreme and violent energy

   hot, raging

   characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense

   knock-down-and-drag-out, knockdown-dragout

   extremely violent

   lashing

   violently urging on by whipping or flogging

   lurid

   horrible in fierceness or savagery

   rampageous

   displaying raging violence; often destructive

   ruffianly, tough

   violent and lawless

   slam-bang

   violent and sudden and noisy

   antonyms:

   nonviolent

   abstaining (on principle) from the use of violence

   peaceable, peaceful

   not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

   unprovocative, unprovoking

   not provocative

   passive, peaceful

   peacefully resistant in response to injustice
2. adjective

   marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid
   “violent passions”

   synonyms: fierce, tearing, trigger-happy, vehement

   intense

   possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
3. adjective

   effected by force or injury rather than natural causes
   “a violent death”

   synonyms:

   unnatural

   not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
4. adjective

   characterized by violence or bloodshed
   synonyms: crimson, red

   bloody

   having or covered with or accompanied by blood
5. adjective

   (of colors or sounds) intensely vivid or loud
   “a violent clash of colors”

   “her dress was a violent red”

   “a violent noise”

   synonyms: wild

   intense

   possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree