violence

/ˈvaɪələns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvaɪələns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvī-lən(t)s ˈvī-ə-/ (ame, mw)

violence — 名詞

1. ways of acting that are deliberately meant to harm, injure, or damage people or

1.名詞B1
釋義

暴力行為

意圖傷害他人或破壞物品的行為

ways of acting that are deliberately meant to harm, injure, or damage people or property, often by applying bodily strength

例句

The government condemned the violence that broke out after the election results were announced.

政府譴責選舉結果公布後爆發的暴力行為。

condemn + violence: formal collocation

Iris's family fled their home country to escape the ongoing violence in the region.

Iris 的家人為了逃離該地區持續的暴力行為而離開了家鄉。

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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

❌She was arrested for violence against the police officer.
✅She was arrested for committing violence against the police officer.
💡The verb 'commit' or 'use' is needed before 'violence' in this context.
❌There was many violence at the protest.
✅There was a lot of violence at the protest.
💡'Violence' is uncountable and cannot be used with 'many'.
❌He violence his younger brother.
✅He used violence against his younger brother.
💡'Violence' is a noun, not a verb.

2. great physical force or strength in nature that is powerful, destructive, or dif

2.名詞B2
釋義

猛烈

自然力量的強勁與破壞性

great physical force or strength in nature that is powerful, destructive, or difficult to control

例句

The violence of the storm destroyed hundreds of homes along the coast.

暴風雨的猛烈威力摧毀了沿海數百間房屋。

violence of [natural phenomenon]: extreme force of nature

Bilal was shocked by the violence of the waves crashing against the rocks.

Bilal 被海浪猛烈拍打岩石的景象所震撼。

同義詞
  • force

    more neutral and general; violence emphasises destructiveness

  • fury

    suggests uncontrolled, angry force; more literary and emotionally charged

  • power

    broader and less negative; does not imply destruction

反義詞
  • 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

❌The storm committed violence on the village.
✅The violence of the storm destroyed the village.
💡'Commit violence' is used for human actions, not natural forces.

3. a specific incident or event in which a person is physically attacked, injured,

3.名詞B2
釋義

暴力事件

一次具體的攻擊或暴力行為

a specific incident or event in which a person is physically attacked, injured, or treated with brutal force

例句

The protest remained peaceful, with no acts of violence reported throughout the day.

抗議活動保持和平，當天未傳出任何暴力事件。

act/acts of violence: countable noun phrase

Eleni was the victim of a random act of violence while walking home from work.

Eleni 在步行回家的路上，成為一起隨機暴力事件的受害者。

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • peace

    absence of conflict or attack

  • restraint

    the act of holding back from using force

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

❌The police reported three violences last night.
✅The police reported three acts of violence last night.
💡'Violence' is not a countable noun; use 'acts of violence' for individual incidents.
❌He committed an act of violence towards his neighbour.
✅He committed an act of violence against his neighbour.
💡The correct preposition with 'violence' is 'against', not 'towards'.

4. great emotional intensity, passion, or energy that is expressed forcefully in wo

4.名詞C1
釋義

激烈

情感或表達的強烈能量

great emotional intensity, passion, or energy that is expressed forcefully in words, feelings, or actions

例句

The violence of Gita's emotions surprised everyone in the therapy session.

Gita 的情緒之激烈，令治療室中的每個人都感到驚訝。

violence of + emotion: abstract intensity

Nicholas could barely control the violence of his anger when he heard the news.

Nicholas 聽到消息後，幾乎無法控制自己激烈的怒氣。

同義詞
  • intensity

    more neutral and broader; violence implies a sharper, more uncontrolled edge

  • passion

    focuses on strong feelings, often positive or neutral; violence suggests a darker, more forceful quality

  • vehemence

    very close in meaning; slightly more formal and less common

反義詞
  • calmness

    a state of emotional stillness and peace

  • mildness

    the quality of being gentle and moderate

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.

常見錯誤

❌The violence of her anger caused physical damage.
✅The violence of her anger overwhelmed everyone in the room.
💡Even in this abstract sense, use it for emotional impact, not literal physical destruction.