1
as in to break
to fail to keep
you've violated the company's rule against smoking within 30 feet of the building
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to desecrate
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect
the invaders violated the temple by using it to stable their horses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of violate
Trump has accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by firing at ships transiting the strait.
—
Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Secret recordings made on the devices have left some people feeling violated.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
She is accused of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Arms Export Control Act.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violate
Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Secret recordings made on the devices have left some people feeling violated.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
She is accused of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Arms Export Control Act.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violate
Verb
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Palace created little, with a functional midfield failing to break the lines and play balls in behind a defence that was comfortable sitting relatively deep.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert’s bid for a fifth DPOY award — which would break a record — will continue for at least one more year.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Defendants found responsible for desecrating burial sites can face fines of $10,000 per offense.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Javien Wright, the man whose grave was desecrated, was, with a gun by his side, shot to death outside a house in the 1500 block of East Mulkey Street in February 2020.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 1992, a former referee named Rita Chatterton said that Vince had forced her to perform oral sex in a limousine and then raped her.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Throughout the years, Gaff reportedly confessed to attempting to attack up to 30 women and girls in one day in the 1980s and admitted to raping at least eight of them.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The December storm opened a sinkhole on Atlantic Drive, breached nearby ponds, sending saltwater rushing into freshwater.—
Jacob Wycoff,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Tech companies call this a ‘thermal wall’ that must be breached if AI technology is to mature further.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Similarly, corruption or physical damage might destroy a file’s header, which contains its identifying metadata, while leaving other parts of it untouched.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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The Jeep crashed into a concrete barrier after clipping the other car, destroying part of the barrier, Adams County Fire Rescue officials said.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In one case about a week ago, a Hollywood Hills resident suffered minor injuries when she was assaulted by burglars after the intruders were discovered in the home.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
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In the course of the narrative, as John is embraced by friends and assaulted by strangers, Jones’s storytelling veers between breakthroughs and setbacks with a rhythm so mechanical as to verge on metronomic.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His edict contravenes the language of the Constitution, the high court’s own rulings, legislation passed by Congress, and the consistent practice of previous Presidents.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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Ukraine's skeleton racer and flag bearer Vladyslav Heraskevych was seen wearing his helmet honoring athletes from his country who were killed during the war with Russia in training this afternoon, despite the IOC saying earlier that the helmet contravenes the Olympic Charter guidelines.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Among the false claims Energy Transfer alleged Greenpeace had spread was that the energy company defiled Native American cultural boundaries.—
Mark Curriden,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
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Militia members had ransacked and defiled the house.—
Yousra Elbagir,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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