- involving or caused by physical force that is intended to hurt or kill somebody
- violent crime/criminals
- violent protests/attacks/incidents
- Students were involved in violent clashes with the police.
- The crowd suddenly turned violent.
- violent towards/to somebody Was he ever violent towards you?
- violent acts/behaviour
- He met with a violent death (= he was murdered, killed in a fight, etc.).
- They don't allow their kids to play violent video games (= that show a lot of violence).
- Their father was a violent man.
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmentb1- She started to get a bit violent.
- The film is contrived, sentimental and gratuitously violent.
- a range of graphically violent video games
- dealing with potentially violent incidents
- the question of whether humans are inherently violent
- He later met a violent death on the battlefield.
- Violent crime has increased by 15 per cent.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- get
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- to
- towards/toward
Definitions on the go
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- showing or caused by very strong emotion
- Toddlers can be prone to violent outbursts.
- There was a violent reaction from the public.
- The whole thing became the subject of violent controversy.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- [usually before noun] very strong and sudden synonym intense, severe
- I took a violent dislike to him.
- a violent storm
- a violent explosion
- a violent headache
- a violent change
Extra Examples- The islands were hit by a violent cyclone.
- Members of the lifeboat crew were presented with bravery awards for launching in violent seas.
- an exceptionally violent storm
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- [usually before noun] (of a colour) extremely bright
- Her dress was a violent pink.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘having a marked or powerful effect’): via Old French from Latin violent- ‘vehement, violent’.
Check pronunciation:
violent