violent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Using physical force meant to hurt or damage.

   He was arrested for a violent attack on a neighbour.

2. 2
   adj

   Likely to use physical force to harm others.

   The escaped prisoners are considered extremely violent.

3. 3
   adj

   Involving extreme force or motion.

   A violent wind ripped the branch from the tree.

4. 4
   adj

   Very strong or intense, especially in emotion.

   She felt a violent urge to scream.

5. 5
   adj

   (of colours) very bright and intense.

   The artist filled the canvas with violent colours.

Common collocations

• violent attack Adjective + noun
• violent crime Adjective + noun
• violent scene Adjective + noun

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *wéyh₁s Proto-Italic *wīs Latin vīs Latin violō Latin -entus Latin violentusbor. Old French violentbor. Middle English violent English violent From Middle English violent, from Old French violent, from Latin violentus, from vīs (“strength”). Displaced native Old English stræc. For the verb, compare French violenter.

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