violent
♦ vio|lent /v'aɪələnt/
1 [ADJ]
If someone is violent, or if they do something which is violent, they use physical force or weapons to hurt, injure, or kill other people.
A quarter of current inmates have committed violent crimes.
...violent anti-government demonstrations...
Sometimes the men get violent.
● violently [ADV] ADV with v
Some opposition activists have been violently attacked.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A violent event happens suddenly and with great force.
A violent explosion seemed to jolt the whole ground.
● violently [ADV] ADV with v
A nearby volcano erupted violently, sending out a hail of molten rock and boiling mud.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you describe something as violent, you mean that it is said, done, or felt very strongly.
Violent opposition to the plan continues...
He had violent stomach pains.
...an outburst of violent emotion.
= intense
● violently [ADV]
He was violently scolded.
4 [ADJ]
A violent death is painful and unexpected, usually because the person who dies has been murdered.
...an innocent man who had met a violent death.
● violently [ADV] ADV with v
...a girl who had died violently nine years earlier.
5 [ADJ]
A violent film or television programme contains a lot of scenes which show violence.
It was the most violent film that I have ever seen.
1 [ADJ]
If someone is violent, or if they do something which is violent, they use physical force or weapons to hurt, injure, or kill other people.
A quarter of current inmates have committed violent crimes.
...violent anti-government demonstrations...
Sometimes the men get violent.
● violently [ADV] ADV with v
Some opposition activists have been violently attacked.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A violent event happens suddenly and with great force.
A violent explosion seemed to jolt the whole ground.
● violently [ADV] ADV with v
A nearby volcano erupted violently, sending out a hail of molten rock and boiling mud.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you describe something as violent, you mean that it is said, done, or felt very strongly.
Violent opposition to the plan continues...
He had violent stomach pains.
...an outburst of violent emotion.
= intense
● violently [ADV]
He was violently scolded.
4 [ADJ]
A violent death is painful and unexpected, usually because the person who dies has been murdered.
...an innocent man who had met a violent death.
● violently [ADV] ADV with v
...a girl who had died violently nine years earlier.
5 [ADJ]
A violent film or television programme contains a lot of scenes which show violence.
It was the most violent film that I have ever seen.