vi ‧ o ‧ lence S2 W2 /ˈvaɪələns/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ violence ≠ ↑ non-violence , ↑ violator , ↑ violation ; verb : ↑ violate ; adverb : ↑ violently ; adjective : ↑ violent ≠ ↑ non-violent ]
1 . behaviour that is intended to hurt other people physically:
There is too much sex and violence on TV these days.
violence against
violence against women
2 . extreme force:
the tremendous violence of a tornado
3 . do violence to something formal to spoil something
4 . literary an angry way of speaking or reacting:
She spoke with a violence that surprised them both.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ physical violence
They were threatened with physical violence.
▪ domestic violence (=violence between a couple in their home)
Police said she was a victim of domestic violence.
▪ racial/ethnic violence (=between people of different racial/ethnic groups)
There were outbreaks of racial violence in some cities.
▪ terrorist violence
The nation has suffered terrorist violence for many years.
▪ gratuitous violence (=violence that there is no reason for)
These films are full of gratuitous violence.
▪ mindless violence (=stupid and without any purpose)
Many have been victims of mindless violence.
▪ escalating/growing violence (=violence that is becoming worse)
There have been reports of escalating violence in the region.
■ verbs
▪ resort to/use violence
They were willing to resort to violence to achieve their ends.
▪ incite/provoke violence (=do or say something that makes people become violent)
The opposition leader was accused of inciting violence against the president.
▪ quell violence (=stop violent behaviour)
The National Guard was brought in to quell the violence.
▪ violence erupts/breaks out/flares (=suddenly starts)
Violence erupted during the demonstration.
▪ the violence escalates (=becomes worse)
The violence escalated as youths turned over a bus and began smashing shop windows.
■ phrases
▪ an act of violence
Police warned that acts of violence would not be tolerated.
▪ an outbreak of violence
There was a fresh outbreak of violence on March 24.
▪ the use of violence
A police spokesman said that the use of violence, while regrettable, was necessary.