nonviolence

noun

non·​vi·​o·​lence ˌnän-ˈvī-ə-lən(t)s How to pronounce nonviolence (audio)
1
: abstention from violence as a matter of principle
also : the principle of such abstention
2
a
: the quality or state of being nonviolent : avoidance of violence
b
: nonviolent demonstrations for the purpose of securing political ends

Examples of nonviolence in a Sentence

Demonstration organizers are urging nonviolence.
Recent Examples on the Web The uncomfortable question of the effectiveness of political violence does hover around its edges, as does the tradition of nonviolence. Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Three years ago, Swedish academic Andreas Malm published an incendiary paperback that insisted that strategic nonviolence is unlikely to do much to save the planet. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The need for radical change through nonviolence that this unique statesman posed—and did not achieve half a century ago—has again become the crucial issue of our era. Ariel Dorfman, The New York Review of Books, 31 Aug. 2023 Fearsome beasts depicted without ferocity were an apt symbol for a country that had made nonviolence part of its revolutionary identity. Daniel Brook, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023 In American schools, the Muslim activist is often presented as the violent counterpart of Martin Luther King, Jr., who preached nonviolence. TIME, 1 Feb. 2024 In 1948, one of their foot soldiers, Nathuram Godse, assassinated Gandhi, who had amassed a huge following as an icon of nonviolence and an advocate of India’s diversity. Hari Kumar Atul Loke, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2024 Although most associate King with nonviolence, this is not entirely accurate. Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 15 Jan. 2024 To participate, poems must feature King’s values of peace, love, unity, concerns for humanity and nonviolence. Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonviolence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonviolence was in 1831

Dictionary Entries Near nonviolence

Cite this Entry

“Nonviolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonviolence. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nonviolence

noun
non·​vi·​o·​lence (ˈ)nän-ˈvī-ə-lən(t)s How to pronounce nonviolence (audio)
1
: the avoidance of the use of violence as a matter of principle
also : the principle of not using violence to achieve one's goals
2
: nonviolent demonstrations for the purpose of achieving political goals
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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