How to Use nonviolent in a Sentence

nonviolent

adjective
  • He argued that nonviolent drug offenders should receive shorter sentences.
  • Their crimes ranged from nonviolent drug offenses to bribery and fraud.
    — Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
  • No Kings writes on its website that its events are nonviolent, and no weapons should be brought to them.
    — Renee Umsted, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • His first nonviolent protest took place many years before the civil rights movement.
    — Nicole Chavez, CNN, 28 Feb. 2021
  • That mix is in evidence again as Virgil tries to walk a nonviolent path.
    — Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • The nonviolent way does not bring about miracles.
    — NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
  • Conviction for nonviolent crimes should not lose a citizen their right to bear arms, the judge said.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2020
  • Because nonviolent protest can be done by people of any and all ability.
    — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
  • In the years that led up to his final crime, he was convicted of three nonviolent property crimes.
    — Ivana Hrynkiw | [email protected], al, 28 Apr. 2022
  • He had been given a life sentence for a nonviolent drug crime in 1998.
    — New York Times, 2 Jan. 2021
  • Armed protests can never be considered nonviolent — there is always the threat that someone will be hurt or killed.
    — Star Tribune, 12 Sep. 2020
  • The good news is that protests, litigation and moving to new states are nonviolent actions.
    — Doyle McManuswashington Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2022
  • The thrust was to keep nonviolent offenders out of jail and prison and get them into mental health and substance abuse treatment.
    — Jenny Goldsberry, The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Dec. 2020
  • The video nonviolent arrestees must watch informs them of their rights and when to comply with an officer's demand.
    — Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN, 8 Oct. 2020
  • There is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth.
    — Essence, 20 Jan. 2026
  • The crime waves are the result of a decrease in arrests for nonviolent crime due to jails and prisons being overcrowded.
    — Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2023
  • The mob that broke into Hamilton Hall was not nonviolent, either.
    — The Editors, National Review, 2 May 2024
  • Authorities in cities around the country have sought ways to keep people accused of nonviolent crimes out of lockups.
    — NBC News, 7 Apr. 2020
  • Organizers emphasized that they are trained in deescalation and the event is meant to be a nonviolent protest.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025
  • The teams will respond to 911 calls for nonviolent behavior crises or substance abuse help.
    — Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 May 2023
  • On the front end, people accused of misdemeanor, nonviolent crimes can be given notices to appear in court rather than jailed.
    — Natalie Brophy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2020
  • In response to Floyd's death, protests, both violent and nonviolent, have popped up in cities across the country in response.
    — Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, 4 June 2020
  • Organizers emphasized that they are trained in deescalation and the event is meant to be a nonviolent protest.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Organizers emphasized that they are trained in deescalation and the event is meant to be a nonviolent protest.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Organizers also have said the protests are meant to be nonviolent and discouraged bringing weapons of any kind.
    — Alex Gladden, Oklahoman, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Organizers also have said the protests are meant to be nonviolent and discouraged bringing weapons of any kind.
    — Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Forward a little more to college days in Nashville, to the start of the sit-ins that began to show the power of nonviolent protest.
    — al, 2 July 2020
  • But nonviolent first-time offenders who have not been accused of using the weapon in another crime rarely get serious prison time for the charges.
    — Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 2 June 2024
  • Faith leaders showing up can reinforce that this is a peaceful movement, a nonviolent movement.
    — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Had this essential step been overlooked, those nonviolent actions could’ve derailed.
    — Michael Shank, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

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

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