sexual assault

noun

Definition of sexual assaultnext
as in violation
the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse convicted of sexual assault of a minor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sexual assault
  1. violation
  2. assault
  3. rape
Noun
  • The agency had found six violations of state code by the company after detainees complained about a lack of protective equipment and proper training while cleaning the facility for $1 per day.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The German predator network managed to thrive despite clear violations of Telegram’s terms of service, again raising questions about how the platform has been used for criminal activity.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Indeed, the administration’s assault on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act intensifies the damage.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Williams had an extraditable warrant out of Suffolk County, New York, on multiple charges including burglary, strangulation and assault.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • News outlets uncovered years-old comments on Reddit that appeared to endorse political violence, dismiss rape in the military, criticize rural Americans and use anti-gay slurs.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • The trial — and Pelicot’s decision to waive her anonymity — prompted a reckoning over rape culture in France and beyond.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of rape
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.

Browse Nearby Words

sextons
sexual assault
sexual assaults
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Cite this Entry

“Sexual assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sexual%20assault. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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