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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of violate
Now, the Supreme Court—which decided to hear the case following a circuit court split—will consider whether Colorado's law violates the First Amendment, or is a permissible restriction on free speech.
—
Solcyré Burga, Time, 7 Oct. 2025
Democrats and a union representing federal workers argue the language violates the 1939 Hatch Act, which bars employees of the executive branch from doing anything partisan while at work.
—Kirk Siegler, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Parkpoom was charged with violating Article 15 of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, banning permit holders from releasing wild animals.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The mailers did not disclose who authorized and paid for their distribution, which violates federal campaign laws.
—Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violate
Solcyré Burga, Time, 7 Oct. 2025
Democrats and a union representing federal workers argue the language violates the 1939 Hatch Act, which bars employees of the executive branch from doing anything partisan while at work.
—Kirk Siegler, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Parkpoom was charged with violating Article 15 of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, banning permit holders from releasing wild animals.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The mailers did not disclose who authorized and paid for their distribution, which violates federal campaign laws.
—Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violate
Verb
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The therapy works by breaking a cycle.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
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Isiah Pacheco had his longest carry this season — and broke two tackles to do it.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Trump’s order also directs administration officials to terminate or revoke visas if foreign nationals are found to have desecrated the flag.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
17 Sep. 2025
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Gonzalez-Rasalas was charged with murder, desecrating a body and auto theft in a gruesome 2023 Easter Sunday homicide.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Howell punched and raped her before making off with her necklace, cellphone and purse, police said.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
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Freites said she was tortured and raped in Colombia and her father and 8-month-old baby killed.—
Gisela Salomon,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On September 10, when several Russian drones breached Poland’s airspace, NATO aircraft were scrambled to intercept and shoot down some of the devices.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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On Monday, Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said that another drone had been found close to his country’s border with Ukraine, weeks after Bucharest alleged that a Russian drone breached its airspace during an attack on its neighbor.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Two months after historic floods swept through the Milwaukee area, new data shows that nearly 2,200 homes throughout Milwaukee County sustained major damage or were destroyed.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Police in Florida are searching for two men caught on camera destroying a mall store while stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise.—
Pilar Arias,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Combs also apologized to abuse victims around the world who may have been triggered by the surveillance footage of him assaulting Ventura.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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The bigger issue is the Texas A&M defense, which was assaulted by a Notre Dame offense still figuring it out with a first-year starter at quarterback.—
Matt Hayes,
USA TODAY,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If my office is later notified that the city has adopted or implemented a policy, whether written or unwritten, that contravenes the statute, the city will again become ineligible for discretionary State funds.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
19 Sep. 2025
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In the years intervening, the poem has remained a lodestar, a contravening presence when, in present day America’s vituperative political landscape, the humanities disciplines and higher education itself has been forced to invoke and defend its own authority.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Countless horror films scare audiences with the simplicity of a foreign entity trying to defile the sanctity of the home.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
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The seafood area’s ice machine was similarly defiled.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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