vehement

adjective

ˈvē-ə-mənt How to pronounce vehement (audio)
Definition of vehementnext
1
as in emphatic
marked by or uttered with forcefulness vehement complaints about the restaurant's poor service

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2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect despite the vehement opposition of the club's treasurer, the motion was passed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in passionate
having or expressing great depth of feeling a vehement defender of the rights of minorities

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vehement The House vote in part was the GOP laying down a marker underlining their vehement opposition to the homeschooling bill. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026 Our findings show that race could easily remain embedded in the political gerrymandering landscape, despite vehement claims to the contrary. — Jordan Ragusa, The Conversation, 11 May 2026 My disagreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies is vehement. — Michael W. Sonnenfeldt, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026 The arguments are familiar, but Russell seems particularly vehement, though the immediate reasons aren’t clear. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vehement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vehement
  1. emphatic
  2. intense
  3. passionate
  4. vigorous
  5. intensive
  6. fervent
  7. aggressive
  8. fierce
Adjective
  • Mozeliak didn’t rule himself out as the long-term answer at general manager and was emphatic about not speaking in absolutes.
    — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • Senegal secured third place in FIFA World Cup Group I with an emphatic 5-0 victory over the 10 men of Iraq — the biggest ever win for an African team at a World Cup.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of emphatic
Adjective
  • Indie Shakes managing director David Melville distills his production around scenes of intense conflict.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • As the planet warms, extreme heat events are becoming more common, intense and long-lasting.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Despite the full lineup and passionate patriotic crowd in Seattle, Team USA looked uncomfortable from the start, fell behind early, made sloppy mistakes and could not keep up with the Belgians, who move on to face Spain in the quarterfinals.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Mexico’s passionate fans blasted horns outside the England hotel to disrupt players’ sleep, and the start of the match was delayed an hour because of a thunderstorm.
    — Carlos Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026
Definition of passionate
Adjective
  • Dunlap notes that borage can grow to about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, while tomatoes are known for their vigorous growth.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026
  • Levine Cava gave the golden-colored dog a vigorous pat on the head.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • The jockeys take on months of intensive training in order to ride in the Ladies’ Race.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • On the flip side, semiconductor manufacturing is one of the most complex and energy-intensive industrial processes in the world, with emissions projected to reach 277 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • England versus Mexico was an all-time epic played in one of sports’ most fervent atmospheres at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • These 15 mountain towns in California offer contemporary amenities amid the beautiful landscapes that inspired one of nature’s most fervent champions.
    — Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
Definition of fervent
Adjective
  • The goal is gentle smoke and indirect heat rather than aggressive flames.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Right now, the multi-trillion-dollar global apparel industry is undergoing an aggressive technological shift, adopting artificial intelligence as a production standard rather than an experimental pilot.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Its young people are increasingly educated and ambitious but many are frustrated over fierce competition for limited jobs.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • The Pride and Angel City have established a fierce rivalry in their short history.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
Definition of fierce

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Cite this Entry

“Vehement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vehement. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vehement

Nglish: Translation of vehement for Spanish Speakers

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