vehement
gb/vˈiəmənt/ us/vˈiəmənt/
C1
English
~ 8400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
showing strong, often angry feelings
Showing very strong and often angry feelings in speech or action, especially when you say no or fight against something.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is vehement about [something]; a vehement [denial/protest/opponent]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *vehement* as a general synonym for *very* (e.g., *a vehement big house*), which is incorrect. *Vehement* is used mainly with emotions, speech, or reactions (e.g., *vehement denial, vehement protest, vehement opposition*), and often suggests anger or strong disagreement. It is not used with neutral physical descriptions like size, color, or age.
Synonyms
fierce (Often suggests aggressive or intense emotion, but can also describe physical force or competition.)
|
passionate (Suggests strong feeling but can be positive or warm, not necessarily angry or confrontational.)
|
forceful (Focuses more on strength and impact of speech or action, and may sound slightly more neutral and formal.)
Antonyms
mild (Describes speech or feelings that are gentle and not strong or intense.)
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restrained (Emphasizes controlled, held-back emotion rather than intense or openly expressed feeling.)
Collocations
vehement denial
|vehement protest
|vehement opposition
|vehement criticism
|vehement supporter
|vehement attack
Themes
emotions
|communication
|politics
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Despite the evidence, he issued a vehement denial of any wrongdoing.
- The proposal was met with vehement opposition from local residents.
- She was a vehement critic of the government’s immigration policy.
- The lawyer made a vehement argument in defense of her client.
- His comments sparked a vehement debate on social media.
Learner examples
- She gave a vehement protest when they tried to fire her.
- The mayor faced vehement criticism after the accident.
- He was always a vehement supporter of free speech.
- The plan caused a vehement reaction in the small town.
- He wrote a vehement letter against the new law.
adjective
literary
C1
property
2
very strong or forceful
Very strong and powerful in force or action.
Usage pattern:
a vehement [storm/wind/outburst]; a vehement [impact/reaction]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense for everyday physical descriptions where *strong* or *heavy* is more natural (e.g., *vehement rain* sounds literary or odd; *heavy rain* is better). This sense is less common and often appears in more formal or literary writing.
Synonyms
intense (A broad word for very strong force or feeling; less suggestive of anger than *vehement* in many contexts.)
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violent (Often suggests physical damage or harm; *vehement* can imply great force without necessarily implying injury.)
Antonyms
gentle (Describes force or movement that is soft and not strong.)
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moderate (Suggests an average, not extreme, level of force or intensity.)
Collocations
vehement storm
|vehement wind
|vehement outburst
|vehement reaction
Themes
nature
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The boat rocked under the vehement force of the waves.
- A vehement storm swept across the coast that night.
- There was a vehement outburst of applause when she finished her speech.
Learner examples
- The trees shook in the vehement wind.
- After a long pause, there was a vehement burst of noise.
- The door closed with a vehement slam.
- The country faced vehement storms all winter.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vehement
IPA
GB/vˈiəmənt/
US/vˈiəmənt/
Syllables & stress
vehe - ment (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (vehe)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: vehement
Word family
Core family
vehemently
adverb C1
vehemence
noun C1
Expressions
vehement denial
1/vˈiəmənt dɪnˈaɪəl/
fixed phrase
very strong and angry denial
A statement that says something is not true, made with very strong and often angry feelings.
Examples
- The minister issued a vehement denial of the corruption allegations.
- Despite the video evidence, his vehement denial continued for months.
vehement opposition
1/vˈiəmənt ˌɑpəzˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
very strong emotional opposition
Very strong and often angry disagreement with or resistance to something.
Examples
- The plan faced vehement opposition from environmental groups.
- Despite vehement opposition, the bill passed by a narrow margin.
vehement protest
1/vˈiəmənt pɹˈoʊtɛst/
fixed phrase
very strong emotional protest
A protest where people show their anger or strong feelings very clearly.
Examples
- The new tax law sparked vehement protest across the country.
- Students staged a vehement protest outside the university administration building.