gewaltsames

Gewaltsames is the attributive neuter singular form of the German adjective gewaltsam, meaning violent or by force. It normally appears before a neuter singular noun, as in ein gewaltsames Vorgehen (a violent course of action) or ein gewaltsames Mittel. By itself, gewaltsames is not commonly used as a stand-alone noun; its nominal form is das Gewaltsame, which refers to violence or the violent character of a phenomenon in a general sense.

Etymology and formation: gewaltsam derives from Gewalt, the noun for violence, combined with the suffix -sam to form the adjective “violent” or “forceful.” The attributive ending -es in gewaltsames reflects standard German adjective declension after an indefinite article (ein). The related noun form das Gewaltsame (capitalized) is used in more abstract or thematic discussions about violence as a concept.

Usage and nuance: gewaltsames conveys force, coercion, or the application of physical or coercive power. It is common in formal or academic German, including discussions of political actions, security measures, or social processes that rely on force. The term is closely related to, but distinct from, gewalttätig (describing a person or act that is violent) and gewaltlos (nonviolent). In many texts, the abstract noun das Gewaltsame is used to denote violence as a phenomenon rather than a concrete act.

See also: Gewalt, Gewalttätigkeit, Gewaltanwendung, gewaltlos, Das Gewaltsame.

References: German dictionaries and linguistic references on adjective declension and nominalization, such as Duden and DWDS, provide further information on the forms and usage of gewaltsam and its derivatives.