1
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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2
as in kidnaping
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rape
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025
On one hand, Serena was part of this world where women were considered less than second-class citizens, and those that were fertile were used by married Gilead couples as incubators for children that were a product of rape, amid a fertility crisis.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 June 2025
Court records showed that Hardin pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in 2019 and was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for each count consecutively.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 18 June 2025
The framework of the legend of Troy rests on, and is brought to completion by, the rape of women.
—Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
The retrial of Harvey Weinstein ended abruptly Thursday when the jury foreman refused to join the deliberations on the remaining rape charge against the disgraced movie mogul.
—Emily Berk, NBC news, 12 June 2025
After millions spent on an operation involving investigators and prosecutors from the U.S., El Salvador and other countries, Vulcan had amassed a trove of evidence aimed at incarcerating the MS-13 leaders who had overseen the killings, rapes and beatings of Americans.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 June 2025
Jurors were to continue deliberating Thursday on a rape charge involving hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann.
—Arkansas Online, 12 June 2025
On Wednesday, the jury had yet to reach a verdict on rape in the third degree, but jurors were sent home midday amid concerns about fighting and tensions in the jury room.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Thomas Loden, who pleaded guilty to raping and killing a 16-year-old girl, was executed in December 2022.
—CBS News, 25 June 2025
In December 2024, U.S. Air Force member Brennon Washington was sentenced to five years in Japanese prison for kidnapping and raping an underage girl.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
The incident took place nearly 30 years after three US servicemen raped a 12-year-old Okinawa school girl in 1995 –– which triggered backlash against the US military’s presence.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 June 2025
He was also convicted of attempting to rape another woman on that night.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 2025
Read Next National Teen was raped on mattress in a field in 2006, Utah officials say.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2025
Read Next National Security officer fatally shoots man fighting with his girlfriend, OK cops say
May 27, 2025 4:39 PM
Read Next
National
Cop raped intoxicated woman in 2019 after 911 call, OK cops say.
—Kate Linderman, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
When a youth soccer coach forgot his phone at a restaurant, staff members trying to figure out who had left it unwittingly found dozens of photos and videos of the man raping boys, Tennessee authorities said.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
Noun
Blankenship was arrested in April on suspicion of rape.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025
On one hand, Serena was part of this world where women were considered less than second-class citizens, and those that were fertile were used by married Gilead couples as incubators for children that were a product of rape, amid a fertility crisis.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 June 2025
Court records showed that Hardin pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in 2019 and was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for each count consecutively.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 18 June 2025
The framework of the legend of Troy rests on, and is brought to completion by, the rape of women.
—Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
The retrial of Harvey Weinstein ended abruptly Thursday when the jury foreman refused to join the deliberations on the remaining rape charge against the disgraced movie mogul.
—Emily Berk, NBC news, 12 June 2025
After millions spent on an operation involving investigators and prosecutors from the U.S., El Salvador and other countries, Vulcan had amassed a trove of evidence aimed at incarcerating the MS-13 leaders who had overseen the killings, rapes and beatings of Americans.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 June 2025
Jurors were to continue deliberating Thursday on a rape charge involving hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann.
—Arkansas Online, 12 June 2025
On Wednesday, the jury had yet to reach a verdict on rape in the third degree, but jurors were sent home midday amid concerns about fighting and tensions in the jury room.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
Verb
These incidents have drawn comparisons to an infamous 1995 case in which three U.S. servicemembers were convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl on her way home from school in Okinawa.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Thomas Loden, who pleaded guilty to raping and killing a 16-year-old girl, was executed in December 2022.
—CBS News, 25 June 2025
In December 2024, U.S. Air Force member Brennon Washington was sentenced to five years in Japanese prison for kidnapping and raping an underage girl.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
The incident took place nearly 30 years after three US servicemen raped a 12-year-old Okinawa school girl in 1995 –– which triggered backlash against the US military’s presence.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 June 2025
He was also convicted of attempting to rape another woman on that night.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 2025
Read Next National Teen was raped on mattress in a field in 2006, Utah officials say.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2025
Read Next National Security officer fatally shoots man fighting with his girlfriend, OK cops say
May 27, 2025 4:39 PM
Read Next
National
Cop raped intoxicated woman in 2019 after 911 call, OK cops say.
—Kate Linderman, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
When a youth soccer coach forgot his phone at a restaurant, staff members trying to figure out who had left it unwittingly found dozens of photos and videos of the man raping boys, Tennessee authorities said.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
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Whether they are regulated globally or locally, human rights violations within supplier networks will never reflect well on parent companies.—
Mary Foley,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
While aerial intercepts are intended to prevent airspace violations, such maneuvers can lead to midair collisions if executed in an unsafe or unprofessional manner.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The family of 17-year-old Victor Perez, an autistic teenager who was shot nine times by police officers in Idaho earlier this year, is suing the Pocatello Police Department (PPD) over claims that officers violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).—
Sophie Clark,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
-
The Senate parliamentarian had ruled that these provisions governing current student loan borrowers violated senate reconciliation rules.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Noun
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Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
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Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
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It’s been almost two years since the Oct. 7 attack that resulted in the abduction of more than 200 people and more than 1,000 deaths.—
Mackenzie Thomas,
The Washington Examiner,
24 June 2025
-
Iranian intelligence operatives were said to be behind the abduction of former FBI agent Robert Levinson in March 2007, for example.—
Nakissa Jahanbani,
The Conversation,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Damaging Iran’s nuclear facilities, decapitating its leadership structure, and repeatedly disrupting its enrichment efforts forces Tehran into a permanent state of caution.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health treatment, and forcing patients onto less effective medications can lead to setbacks in health, social functioning, and recovery.—
Carali McLean,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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