violent

[ vahy-uh-luh nt ]
/ ˈvaɪ ə lənt /

adjective

acting with or characterized by uncontrolled, strong, rough force: a violent earthquake.
caused by injurious or destructive force: a violent death.
intense in force, effect, etc.; severe; extreme: violent pain; violent cold.
roughly or immoderately vehement or ardent: violent passions.
furious in impetuosity, energy, etc.: violent haste.
of, relating to, or constituting a distortion of meaning or fact.

Origin of violent

1300–50; Middle English < Latin violentus, equivalent to vi-, shortening (before a vowel) of base of vīs force, violence + -olentus, variant (after a vowel) of -ulentus -ulent

OTHER WORDS FROM violent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH violent

violent virulent

Example sentences from the Web for violently

British Dictionary definitions for violently

violent
/ (ˈvaɪələnt) /

adjective

marked or caused by great physical force or violence a violent stab
(of a person) tending to the use of violence, esp in order to injure or intimidate others
marked by intensity of any kind a violent clash of colours
characterized by an undue use of force; severe; harsh
caused by or displaying strong or undue mental or emotional force a violent tongue
tending to distort the meaning or intent a violent interpretation of the text

Derived forms of violent

violently, adverb

Word Origin for violent

C14: from Latin violentus, probably from vīs strength