violence
violence — noun
1. ways of acting that are deliberately meant to harm, injure, or damage people or
ways of acting that are deliberately meant to harm, injure, or damage people or property, often by applying bodily strength
The government condemned the violence that broke out after the election results were announced.
condemn + violence: formal collocation
Iris's family fled their home country to escape the ongoing violence in the region.
Teachers are now trained to recognise the early signs of domestic violence in their students.
The documentary showed the terrible violence of war and its lasting effects on children.
- brutality
suggests cruel and merciless treatment, often with a repetitive element; stronger emotional charge than violence
- aggression
focuses on the hostile or attacking behaviour itself rather than the harm caused
- savagery
implies extreme, primitive, or unbridled cruelty; stronger and more graphic than violence
- peace
a state without conflict or fighting
- non-violence
the principle of avoiding the use of physical force
文法句型
violence + against + [someone/something]
violence + towards + [someone]
用法筆記
Usually uncountable. Use "an act of violence" for a single event. Distinguish from sense 3, which refers to a specific countable incident rather than the general concept.
常見錯誤
2. great physical force or strength in nature that is powerful, destructive, or dif
great physical force or strength in nature that is powerful, destructive, or difficult to control
The violence of the storm destroyed hundreds of homes along the coast.
violence of [natural phenomenon]: extreme force of nature
Bilal was shocked by the violence of the waves crashing against the rocks.
Nothing could have prepared the rescue team for the violence of the volcanic eruption.
Joon had never experienced the violence of a typhoon until he moved to the coast.
- calm
a state of stillness or gentle conditions
- gentleness
the quality of being mild and soft rather than forceful
文法句型
the violence of + [natural phenomenon]
用法筆記
Always used in the pattern "the violence of + [wind / storm / waves / earthquake]". Never used with 'commit' or 'use' — physical forces do not 'commit' violence; they 'show' or 'display' it.
常見錯誤
3. a specific incident or event in which a person is physically attacked, injured,
a specific incident or event in which a person is physically attacked, injured, or treated with brutal force
The protest remained peaceful, with no acts of violence reported throughout the day.
act/acts of violence: countable noun phrase
Eleni was the victim of a random act of violence while walking home from work.
Human rights groups documented more than thirty acts of political violence last month alone.
The government promised to take stronger action against gender-based violence in the workplace.
- assault
a specific legal term for a physical attack; narrower and more formal than an act of violence
- attack
broader than violence; can include non-physical forms such as verbal attacks
- aggression
emphasises the hostile intent; can be physical or verbal
文法句型
act(s) of violence
violence against + [someone]
用法筆記
This is the countable sense — it refers to individual events rather than the general concept. Typically used in the phrase "act(s) of violence" or "violence against". Usually in formal or journalistic registers.
常見錯誤
4. great emotional intensity, passion, or energy that is expressed forcefully in wo
great emotional intensity, passion, or energy that is expressed forcefully in words, feelings, or actions
The violence of Gita's emotions surprised everyone in the therapy session.
violence of + emotion: abstract intensity
Nicholas could barely control the violence of his anger when he heard the news.
The novelist captured the violence of the main character's inner conflict with remarkable skill.
The play's director captured the violence of the character's inner turmoil through dramatic lighting.
文法句型
the violence of + [emotion/feeling/expression]
用法筆記
Only used in formal or literary contexts. The pattern is always "the violence of + [abstract noun: anger, emotion, passion, feeling]". Do not use this sense in everyday conversation or news reporting about physical harm — that would be sense 1.