agents of violence

USAGE SUMMARY

'agents of violence' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to anything that uses violence as a means for achieving a political or social end, such as a terrorist organization, militant group, or any other type of belligerent entity. For example: "The leaders of the terrorist organization are some of the most dangerous agents of violence in the world today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But news, and precedent, were broken here: this is a narration of real, physical violence by the agents of violence, all as the violence is being wrought.

The New Yorker

Yet, different opinion polls show that Colombians overwhelmingly identify the guerrillas as the major agents of violence in the conflict Ipsos-Napoleón Francoo 2008).

Functional Linguistics

Moving even further away from the female victim/male perpetrator dichotomy in the international sexual violence discourse (Lewis 2014; Linos 2009), Scully (2010) notes how the victim-perpetrator binary essentially overlooks how individuals may be both subjects and agents of violence, like child soldiers who are first victims/survivors of (sexual) violence and later partake in its perpetration.

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

These patterns, along with others identified elsewhere (García 2011, 2012, 2013), suggest a trend in the Colombian press of downplaying paramilitary actions while highlighting guerrilla's responsibility, which may have contributed to the widespread ideology of the paramilitaries as minor agents of violence.

Functional Linguistics

It is more constructive to understand the history of the systemic issues which breed violence rather than judging agents of violence or "victims" of such systems.

Huffington Post

Who do you turn to for protection when the very people entrusted to do so are agents of violence against you?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

He was being denounced in the press and by political leaders as an agent of violence.

Harvard University

That fear-stoking language is terrifyingly familiar: the audacity to forecast violence after acting as an agent of violence yourself.

The New Yorker

This is not to pretend that Whiting is always in control of his material; and there are certain ideas, such as Procathren's transformation from civilised belletrist to agent of violence, that are dramatically over-compressed.

The Guardian

And you do this, secondly, because masculinity is evil and the phallus – once a symbol of fertility, fun and good fortune – has become a lethal, corrupt and infecting agent of violence.

Independent

Keeping our focus on the connection between racism and capital, the dollar sign appears frequently as itself an agent of violence, as in one image where a giant blood-stained gold coin with a dollar sign in the middle rolls around the globe leaving “racism, exploitation, poverty, colonization, unemployment, and war” in its path.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or formal writing, consider using "agents of violence" to maintain a neutral tone when discussing groups or individuals involved in conflicts or acts of aggression. This phrase avoids potentially biased labels.

Common error

Avoid using "agents of violence" as a catch-all term for any group involved in conflict. Be specific about their actions and level of involvement to ensure accuracy and prevent misrepresentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agents of violence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it identifies those responsible for carrying out violent actions, whether individuals, groups, or entities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "agents of violence" is a grammatically correct and usable term in English, as confirmed by Ludwig. It identifies individuals or groups responsible for committing violent acts, often within political or social contexts. While considered an uncommon phrase, its usage is generally neutral and appears in news, scientific, and academic sources. Ludwig examples illustrate its application in describing actors involved in conflict or aggression. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly define the specific entities to avoid ambiguity and overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perpetrators of violence

Focuses specifically on those who commit violent acts.

instigators of violence

Highlights the role of causing or initiating violence.

sources of violence

Emphasizes the origin or cause from which violence stems.

vehicles of violence

Presents violence as being carried or enacted through these agents.

actors of violence

Similar to perpetrators, but can also include those involved in a broader context.

forces of violence

Highlights the strength or power behind the violent actions.

elements of violence

Focuses on components or entities contributing to a violent environment.

triggers of violence

Highlights what sets off violence.

promoters of violence

Emphasizes those who encourage or support violence.

facilitators of violence

Highlights those who enable or make violence easier to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "agents of violence" in a sentence?

You can use "agents of violence" to refer to individuals or groups that perpetrate violent acts, as in "The report identified several non-state "agents of violence" operating in the region."

What is a less formal way to say "agents of violence"?

Depending on the context, you could use terms like "violent groups", "perpetrators", or "attackers" as less formal alternatives.

Which is more accurate, "agents of violence" or "victims of violence"?

"Agents of violence" refers to those who commit violent acts, while "victims of violence" refers to those who suffer from them. The correct phrase depends on who you are describing.

What's the difference between "forces of violence" and "agents of violence"?

"Agents of violence" directly refers to the individuals or groups carrying out violent acts. "Forces of violence" is a broader term that can encompass systemic or abstract drivers of violence, not just the direct actors.