What does vehement mean?
Vehement means expressed with strong feeling, energy, or insistence. It is especially common in descriptions of speeches, protests, criticism, objections, denials, and debates, where it emphasizes the intensity and force of the speaker’s position. A vehement objection is not merely a mild disagreement, and a vehement speech delivers its message with passion and urgency. The word is formal in tone and appears frequently in journalism, political writing, legal contexts, and academic discussion. Although it can imply an emotionally forceful or heated exchange, it does not by itself mean that physical violence is involved. The adjective is often paired with nouns such as opposition, denial, protest, and criticism, and is converted into the adverb vehementely. Its Latin roots connect it with ideas of force and vigor, which explains its strong modern connotations.
adjectiveShowing strong feeling, conviction, or force; energetic and emphatic. It is often used for speech, opposition, criticism, or emotions that are expressed forcefully.
- Expressing strong feeling, conviction, or emotion with force and intensity.
- Characterized by vigorous, emphatic opposition, criticism, denial, or debate.
"Her vehement objection forced the committee to reconsider the proposal."
"The proposal met with vehement opposition from residents who objected to its impact on the neighborhood."
"She delivered a vehement speech, demanding an immediate investigation."
Vehement began with a promise of power: its Latin ancestor meant vigorous, forceful, and even violent, giving the modern word an unusually vivid sense of unstoppable force.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How vehement is actually used
Vehement is a formal word commonly used in editorial, legal, political, and academic contexts. It is typically more intense than forceful and more emotionally charged than emphatic; it does not necessarily imply physical violence.
Easily confused with vehement
Vehement describes forceful expression or strong feeling, whereas violent more commonly refers to physical force, aggression, or destructive intensity.