violence

VY-uh-luhns/ˈvaɪ.(ə.)ləns/

4 meanings of violence

1
physical harmnoununcountable
Using force to hurt people or damage things, or fighting between groups of people.
Like a storm that breaks whatever it touches.
The movie has too much violence for young kids.
They settled the argument without any violence.
UsageUsually no a: there was violence. Say an act of violence for one event, and violence against someone.
Note
2
extreme forcenoununcountable
Very great force or power.
Like a giant wave strong enough to knock you off your feet.
The violence of the storm tore roofs off houses.
She slammed the door with surprising violence.
UsageOften the violence of a storm, or with violence, meaning with great force.
Similarforce, ferocity, intensity, fury, power
Oppositegentleness
Note
3
wrong donenounfigurativelyuncountable
A wrong or unfair act done to someone or something.
Like bending a straight stick until it snaps out of shape.
The new law does great violence to people's basic rights.
A careless translation does violence to the poem's meaning.
UsageUsually do violence to something: to twist it or treat it unfairly.
Similardamage, harm, injustice
Oppositejustice
Note

Less common meaning

4
verbnonstandardtransitive
To use violence against a person or place.
And the triad is made complete by she who is violenced by him.
2011, Timothy D. Forsyth, The Alien
He physically violenced my mother, physically violenced me and my brothers, and was sexually abusive to me until I was in second grade.
2012, Megan Sweeney, The Story Within Us: Women Prisoners Reflect on Reading
UsageYou may see was violenced or violenced someone. In careful writing, say subjected to violence instead.
Similarattack, assault, brutalize, ravage

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of violence apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Old French from Latin, from the word for "violent." It replaced the older English word "stræc."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Violence came through Old French from Latin. en.wiktionary.org
Its Latin source derives from a word meaning violent. en.wiktionary.org
Violence replaced the older English word stræc. en.wiktionary.org