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Is there a word for one who finds violence acceptable, but not to the extent of killing?

English Language & Usage Asked by gastrodon on June 19, 2021

Lately, I’ve been playing the game Metal Gear Solid, which is a game focused on espionage. In the game, the way that I prefer to play is such that the playable character is fine with harming the enemy; for example incapacitating them with hand to hand combat, using a tranquilizer gun on them, or holding them up at gun point, but not fine with murdering them.

Is there a word that exists to describe an opinion that violence is fine to accomplish a task, but not murder? For one to be pacifist necessitates that one is against all forms of violence, including that which does not end the life another, so that didn’t quite fit.

One Answer

  1. unsoldierly (adj): Not having the qualities of a soldier. [Shorter Oxford English dictionary]

This is applicable if one thinks the purpose of being a soldier is to kill. In this case, someone who is unsoldierly may still tolerate violence to some extent.

  1. unmilitary (adj): Not in accordance with military practice. [Shorter Oxford English dictionary]

For reasons analogous to those above. The synonym 'nonmilitary' may work as well.

  1. conscientious objector (noun):

A person who refuses to serve in the armed forces or bear arms on moral or religious grounds. [M-W]

Again, someone may not wish to serve in the armed forces due to scruples over killing, rather than violence per se.

For all that, I don't find any of these terms especially specific for your intended meaning. It may be, as is found in other instances, that the best term will be one suggested by the personality traits of a character in some fairly well-known story.

Compare - [Quixotic, Pander, Gargantuan, Serendipity, Malapropism, Milquetoast, Pollyanna, Syohilis] etc.

Answered by ConsciousClay on June 19, 2021

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