rapist

noun

rap·​ist ˈrā-pist How to pronounce rapist (audio)
plural rapists
: a person who rapes someone : a person who commits rape
a convicted rapist

Examples of rapist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Read Next National Cops refused to investigate ‘serial rapist,’ suit says. Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2025 The State Department claims the group includes rapists and murderers, but critics argue that due process is being disregarded, leaving migrants vulnerable to abuse in one of the most violent countries in the region. Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025 That same year, DeSantis also signed a bill that would allow child rapists to be executed, challenging existing U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Romy Ellenbogen, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025 Many key elements of Williams’s story remain impossible to confirm, but subsequent lawsuits and investigations have lent credence to the idea that one of the most prolific and notorious rapists in American history operated unchecked because of police corruption. Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rapist

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rapist was in 1867

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Cite this Entry

“Rapist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapist. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

rapist

noun
rap·​ist ˈrā-pəst How to pronounce rapist (audio)
: an individual who commits rape

More from Merriam-Webster on rapist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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