Thesaurus results for RAPE

rape 1 of 2

noun

ˈrāp

Definition of rape

as in violation

the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse an international law defining rape as a war crime

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Relevance

as in kidnapping

the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal the legend of the rape of the Sabine women by the ancient Romans was frequently depicted in classical art

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rape

2 of 2

verb

as in to violate

to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent the defendant accused of raping the victim

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rape

Noun

The twins also face two pending rape cases in Florida state court. — Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 Comparing the administration's fight to protect women and women's spaces from males to rape, is utterly disgusting and actually devalues those atrocities and crimes against actual women. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 During what was one of the most surprising episodes of SVU at the time (the show has come a long way), Cabot was forced to fake her death and go into Witness Protection after attempting to convict a ruthless gang member for rape. — Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2026 He was released from prison in 2025, after serving time for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 Other documentaries from Cecilia include Shut Up & Sing (2006) and Brave Miss World (2013), about a survivor of rape who represented her country of Italy in the Miss World competition six weeks after the incident. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 23 Oct. 2026 The student accused of rape could not be reached for comment, but Alpha Delta Phi said he has been suspended from the fraternity, according to Steve Ehrfurth, executive director of the national organization. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 The woman accusing Peters of rape in this latest case also filed a civil lawsuit against him in April in Florida. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 While Off Campus is set in college, the book series still deals with heavier topics as well, like Hannah’s rape and Garrett’s father’s abuse in Season 1. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Verb

This is a woman who survived childhood trauma, raped repeatedly by her stepfather. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Attorneys for the Alexanders are seeking the lowest possible sentence of 15 years and deny the men ever drugged or raped any women. — Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 In 1980, Cheek was convicted of raping a young woman at gunpoint. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 More than 230 people were kidnapped and more than 1,000 females were raped. — Widlore Mérancourt, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 On the ninth day of Brand’s trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court, witnesses gave evidence in support of Complainant 5 (C5), who alleges that she was raped by the Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor after meeting him at a comedy gig in 2009. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 Acton has said that her stepfather repeatedly raped her as a pre-teenage girl and that her family lived in a tent at the time she was removed from their care. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026 Her mother lost custody of Acton and her brother after her husband — the children’s stepfather — was indicted on a charge of raping Acton. — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Her mother lost custody of Acton and her brother after her husband — the children’s stepfather — was indicted for raping Acton. — Julie Carr Smyth, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape

Noun

This was a violation at the opening inspection and was to be corrected prior to opening.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
The law firm said that a license plate violation will not add points on your DMV record.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of violation

Noun

Haiti’s government described the incident as a kidnapping and said the search for the technicians was its top priority.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Investigators say that surveillance video of the kidnapping shows a man wearing black gloves getting out of the same vehicle.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of kidnapping

Verb

Meta has long been criticized for its data privacy practices, and on Wednesday, a New Mexico judge ordered the company to pay $25 billion for violating the state’s consumer protection laws.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
The company had previously said a penalty in the billions of dollars risked violating its constitutional rights to due process and protection from excessive fines.

— Reuters, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of violate

Noun

Lula seized on these acts as meddling in the campaign, and as an assault on Brazilian sovereignty encouraged by the Bolsonaro family.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
All this was happening with a coincident and successful assault of affirmative action in higher education.

— Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

The International Criminal Court in 2023 issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Other theories about Madeleine’s disappearance include a botched robbery that resulted in her murder or an abduction by human traffickers.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of abduction

Verb

Rather than chasing fancy titles or splashy paychecks throughout her career, she’s gravitated toward jobs that pushed her out of her comfort zone, forced her to take risks, and taught her to embrace a little chaos.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
The defense once again gave the offense an opportunity, forcing an Argyle punt, and this time, Heritage capitalized with a 2-yard rushing TD from Vargas to cut the lead to 7 points.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of force

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rapacity

rape

raped

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Style

“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rape

noun

verb

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