-nt adjective
Etymology: Middle French, from Latin vehement-, vehemens; akin to Latin vehere to carry — more at way
1.
a. archaic : immoderate in strength or degree : intense , severe
his pain was very vehement — Nicholas Robinson
requires a vehement fire to flux it — Robert Boyle
b. archaic : marked by excessive vigor or turbulence : furious , violent
vehement deluges of rain — John Morgan
c. : having a strong physical effect : potent
produces a vehement kind of whiskey known as tanglefoot — Joseph Mitchell
2. : strongly entertained : emphatic , pronounced
any denial … was thenceforward sufficient to justify vehement suspicion of heresy — G.G.Coulton
3.
a. : warmly emotional : ardent , passionate
the affections of an only child of fourteen are as concentrated as they are vehement — Ngaio Marsh
vehement patriotism and poetic style — E.E.Allen
b. : scathingly hostile : rancorous , truculent
that vehement , that furious obsession of animosity — Van Wyck Brooks
4.
a. : full of energy : lively , strenuous
vehement applause
against his vehement opposition, the war … was precipitated — U.B.Phillips
b. : strikingly colorful : showy , vivid
a tall, pale apparition, equipped with a vehement red wig and a police whistle — Wolcott Gibbs
5.
a. : expressive of strong emotion or conviction : impassioned
vehement utterances in opposition to slavery — H.A.Bridgman
b. : characterized by active conviction or enthusiasm : fervent , zealous
a vehement extremist
a fine … scholar and vehement teacher — W.B.Yeats
c. : characterized by bitter antagonism : heated
a vehement debate
• ve·he·ment·ly adverb