do violence to
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As professors Daniel Hemel and Eric Posner observe, construing the word “whoever” to mean “whoever except the president” would do violence to the English language.
From Slate • Apr. 30, 2024
But a panel of five judges on the Court of Final Appeal unanimously overturned both the conviction and sentence on Friday, saying such a wide interpretation "would do violence to the language".
From Reuters • Jul. 15, 2022
“If we are to reject speech because it comes from an unorthodox group, we do violence to the very underpinnings of our notions of liberty,” Randazza and Wolman wrote.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 2, 2018
Do not do violence to the author’s tone, manner, nature, style, thumbprint.
From The New Yorker • Sep. 14, 2015
"Are ye distraught?" cried the monk; "will ye do violence to the house of God!"
From King Eric and the Outlaws, Vol. 3 or, the Throne, the Church, and the People in the Thirteenth Century. Vol. I. by Ingemann, Bernhard Severin