ultraviolence
noun
ul·tra·vi·o·lence
ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-lən(t)s 
-ˈvī-ə-
: extreme or excessive violence
As is so often the case in films of this kind, the ultraviolence is denounced as obscene and demeaning, but the film makers—and the audiences—clearly enjoy each sick and sickening sensation.—
Arthur Knight
Arthur Knight
ultraviolent
ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-lənt
adjective
-ˈvī-ə-
… the ultraviolent Oliver Stone movie "Natural Born Killers," about a young couple who take drugs and kill people for pleasure.
—Mark Miller
Mark Miller
Examples of ultraviolence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is a truth to the complaint inherent in discussions about the enthusiastic ultraviolence in and around trap and drill in the past decade.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
With his second sequel (also Christmas-themed), Leone ramps up Art’s already-notorious appetite for ultraviolence, putting Sienna through her most hellish encounter yet.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2024
Half a century later, the scene seems no less appalling, given the way Stanley Kubrick made such ultraviolence look like fun for the demented kids who were doing it.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2024
Both of these projects promoted ultraviolence, demonic Satanism, ritualistic torture, and pedophilia.
—Ali Winston, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024
The ultraviolence hits an unsteady critical mass point somewhere around the arrival of the Wolverine clone — and all the gore can feel at odds with the elegiac tone.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 26 July 2024
That the dude just brutally murdered multiple Jedi, including a Force-using Wookiee and two other main characters in a deadly blur of ultraviolence?
—EW.com, 26 June 2024
There would also be inspired rip-offs like 2017’s Atomic Blonde (from uncredited Wick co-director David Leitch) and 2021’s Nobody, in which Bob Odenkirk, of all people, commits many acts of Wick-like ultraviolence.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Sisu is beyond cartoonish in terms of its ultraviolence, which becomes more of an end and less of a means before the final villain gets his righteous comeuppance.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2023
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Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
With his second sequel (also Christmas-themed), Leone ramps up Art’s already-notorious appetite for ultraviolence, putting Sienna through her most hellish encounter yet.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2024
Half a century later, the scene seems no less appalling, given the way Stanley Kubrick made such ultraviolence look like fun for the demented kids who were doing it.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2024
Both of these projects promoted ultraviolence, demonic Satanism, ritualistic torture, and pedophilia.
—Ali Winston, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024
The ultraviolence hits an unsteady critical mass point somewhere around the arrival of the Wolverine clone — and all the gore can feel at odds with the elegiac tone.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 26 July 2024
That the dude just brutally murdered multiple Jedi, including a Force-using Wookiee and two other main characters in a deadly blur of ultraviolence?
—EW.com, 26 June 2024
There would also be inspired rip-offs like 2017’s Atomic Blonde (from uncredited Wick co-director David Leitch) and 2021’s Nobody, in which Bob Odenkirk, of all people, commits many acts of Wick-like ultraviolence.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Sisu is beyond cartoonish in terms of its ultraviolence, which becomes more of an end and less of a means before the final villain gets his righteous comeuppance.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2023
Dictionary Entries Near ultraviolence
Cite this Entry
“Ultraviolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ultraviolence. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
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