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violence
/ˈvaɪələns/
physical force causing harm
The protest turned violent when police used excessive force.
The peaceful demonstration escalated into a situation where physical harm was inflicted.
neutral
Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
Domestic violence is a serious crime that affects millions worldwide.
Physical harm inflicted by a family member or partner is legally punishable.
The documentary exposed the violence of factory farming.
The film revealed harmful practices in animal agriculture.
Violence can be physical, psychological, or structural (e.g., systemic oppression).
figurative
Extreme intensity or harshness in action or expression.
The critic described the film's violence as gratuitous.
The reviewer argued that the extreme intensity in the movie was unnecessary.
Often used metaphorically to describe non-physical harshness (e.g., 'verbal violence').
Collocations
domestic violencephysical harm within a householdpolice violenceexcessive force used by law enforcementstructural violencesystemic harm embedded in social structuresact of violencean instance of harmful physical force
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context matters
Use 'violence' for intentional harm. For unintentional harm, use 'accident' or 'injury'.
Gold Rule
Avoid ambiguity
Specify the type of violence (e.g., 'domestic violence' vs. 'street violence') to avoid confusion.
Word Origin
From Old French 'violence' (13th c.), from Latin 'violentia' (vehemence, impetuosity), from 'violentus' (vehement, fierce), related to 'vis' (force, strength).
Usage Notes
Avoid using 'violence' to describe minor conflicts; it implies significant harm. In legal contexts, 'violence' often refers to criminal acts.
Word Breakdown
viol-
force, strength
root-ence
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary