VIOLATE Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

violate

verb

ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt

Definition of violate

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

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

as in to rape

to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent criminal statutes delineating acts that constitute violating another person

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 violate The Polish military said a Russian military helicopter briefly violated Poland’s airspace Wednesday on the country’s border with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Reddit appealed the fine, arguing that the UK demands would violate user privacy. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026 An acute shortage of affordable housing, skyrocketing water rates, City Council members violating the city charter. — Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 The federal government has accused the TPLF of violating the Pretoria Agreement and seeking to create chaos. — CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for violate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for violate

Verb

Launched in 2004, the $364 million observatory is designed to pivot quickly -- as its name suggests -- to capture gamma ray bursts, exploding stars and other fast-breaking cosmic action.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
San Juanico has experienced late summer storms, but Polo feels different, said Jeffrey Westman, an American who was first drawn to the town’s world-class surf break 40 years ago and owns a property there.

— Eugene Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of break

Verb

Then in January 2026, according to police, a potential family member reached out to police and said the mausoleum and grave of a relative at Riverview Cemetery were unlawfully desecrated in 2002.

— David Chiu, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2026
Without criminal consequences, operators who profit from desecrating the dead have nothing to fear.

— Susana Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of desecrate

Verb

Cops said William Stephens, 55, who has no criminal record, was charged with raping a woman on a rooftop in Brooklyn 31 years ago, officials said.

— Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
The woman immediately tried to leave, but, one of the men, 42-year-old Julius Hunter, held her captive and raped her for several hours, the DA said.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of rape

Verb

Among the boundaries that have been breached, according to the new report, are carbon dioxide concentrations, which reached a record 426 parts per million (ppm) because fossil fuel burning had not decreased at nearly the needed pace.

— Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026
Some fans had breached one of the entrances without paying, leading security to shut down the entire Stadium.

— Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of breach

Verb

During a recent walk-through with city officials, an encampment resident asked for help after witnessing people entering the encampment and assaulting and robbing residents.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Police said three people were charged with assaulting an emergency worker during the demonstration.

— Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of assault

Verb

Two years ago he was suspended for three months by the Cricket Regulator for betting on cricket between 2017 and 2019, contravening the game’s rules.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
The ban contravenes advice from the World Health Organization, which advises against travel or trade restrictions with Congo, where officials are currently struggling to contain a large ⁠outbreak of Ebola.

— Reuters, NBC news, 19 July 2026

Definition of contravene

Verb

Happy anniversary from a California native who fell in love with the coast at first sight, and shame on those who would defile it.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
To defile the legacy of his family and that family name is sickening, and turns my stomach.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026

Definition of defile

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violable

violate

violated

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Style

“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violate. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of violate

verb

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