popular violence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "popular violence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe acts of violence that are widely accepted or endorsed by a significant portion of the population, often in a social or political context. Example: "The protests escalated into popular violence, as crowds took to the streets demanding change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Popular violence erupted.

The New York Times - Arts

He is an autocrat whose use of popular violence during legislative elections led to a cutoff of international aid.

The New York Times

The most highly contested area, the Kashmir valley controlled by India, populated mostly by Muslims and contested by Pakistan has by turns been the focus of militancy, terrorism, popular violence and state repression.

The Economist

His indictments tend to be fairly moderate, because only three or four European nations have been more honorable than Britain toward their own Jews, at least since state and popular violence against them ended with the medieval period, when it was dreadful indeed.

The New York Times - Books

The intervening period had been characterised by a mixture of popular violence and peaceable, if feverish political activity in France, as its absolute monarchy gave way to a constitutional monarchy.

SEP

Women and children were not shielded from such acts of popular violence.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Tragically, Greenwald's bill is only one of many popular gun violence prevention bills that Christie has vetoed some of which were unanimously approved by the New Jersey legislature.

Huffington Post

"Those kinds of things are popular because violence in Brazil has reached a level that people are desperate for aggressive solutions".

Huffington Post

Serial Killers is but one manifestation of Toporowicz's fascination with popular culture, violence, and death; his oeuvre is filled with work circling similar themes.

Vice

WASHINGTON -- Just over a week after the worst mass shooting in American history, the Senate failed Monday to advance a pair of modest and popular gun violence reform measures.

Huffington Post

Bruce Johnson and Martin Cloonan expose this inconsistency in "Dark Side of the Tune: Popular Music and Violence" (2008).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "popular violence", ensure the context clearly indicates that the violence is either supported by a significant portion of the population or is a result of widespread public unrest.

Common error

Avoid using "popular violence" to describe isolated incidents of violence, even if they receive media attention. The phrase implies a broader base of support or participation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "popular violence" functions as a noun phrase that describes a specific type of violence. The adjective "popular" modifies the noun "violence", indicating that it's widespread and possibly supported by a significant portion of the population. Ludwig examples show its usage in describing historical events and political situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "popular violence" describes violence that is either supported by a significant portion of the population or emerges from widespread public unrest. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While relatively uncommon, it's primarily used in news and media contexts to describe specific types of violent events rooted in public sentiment. Related phrases include "public unrest escalating to violence" and "communal violence", which offer alternative ways to express similar concepts. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates its connection to public support or unrest to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

violence endorsed by the public

Explicitly states that the violence has public approval or support.

violence with popular backing

Highlights that the violence has popular approval or support.

publicly supported acts of aggression

Focuses on the aggressive nature of the actions and their public backing.

public unrest escalating to violence

Focuses on the escalation from unrest to violence, highlighting the initial public dissatisfaction.

grassroots violence

Suggests that the violence originates from the general public, not from organized groups or leaders.

uprising turning violent

Focuses on the aspect of rebellion or revolt and its transformation into violence.

communal violence

Emphasizes the community aspect, suggesting violence between different groups within a community.

mob violence

Highlights the uncontrolled and chaotic nature of violence committed by a large group.

widespread civil disorder involving violence

Highlights the broader context of civil disorder that includes violent acts.

mass violence

Focuses on the scale and intensity of the violent acts, emphasizing the large number of people involved.

FAQs

What does the term "popular violence" mean?

The term "popular violence" refers to violent acts that are either widely supported by a population or arise from widespread public unrest. It indicates that the violence has a degree of acceptance or participation from the general public.

How can I use "popular violence" in a sentence?

You might say, "The government's policies sparked "popular violence" as citizens protested in the streets", indicating the violence was a widespread response to the government.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "popular violence"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "communal violence", "mass violence", or "public unrest escalating to violence".

Is "popular violence" the same as "mob violence"?

While both involve groups and violence, "popular violence" suggests broader public support or origin in public unrest, whereas "mob violence" typically refers to uncontrolled, chaotic violence by a crowd, regardless of public support.