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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 rape
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Atiba Stanislaus, a farmer in his 20s, received 60 years for manslaughter and an additional 18 years for the rape of Brandel, along with other sentences for other crimes including kidnapping.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Trabuco also likened Rodriguez-Kennedy to victims of lynchings and to the Central Park 5, the group of Black and Latino teenagers in New York City who were wrongly charged, convicted and imprisoned on rape charges and ultimately exonerated.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
Gary Moody back in 1978 was convicted of rape, assault to murder and other charges in connection with raping and repeatedly beating the woman.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 31 July 2025
An additional rape charge against Weinstein was given a mistrial in June of 2025, following jury room tensions.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Estimates of the number of rapes committed vary widely — up to as many as 120,000 — according to data compiled by the researchers, with many reluctant to report the attacks.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
In April 2024, Lateral officer Myron Howard, who was with the department for one year, was charged with rape, criminal confinement, official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 30 July 2025
Thomas Partey, the footballer accused of rape, will feature on the Premier League’s official trading cards when they are released next month — after Arsenal rubber-stamped his inclusion.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 29 July 2025
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Placer County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 27-year-old man suspected of attempting to rape a woman in a park outside Roseville Sunday afternoon — while other deputies on their way to the scene wound up in a car crash.
—Ethan Wolin
august 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
If Hamas hadn’t invaded, butchered and raped Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, there would be zero casualties in Gaza.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 July 2025
One Day in Southport instead features other populist preachers like Carl Benjamin, a YouTuber who espouses the great replacement theory and once openly debated raping Labour lawmaker Jess Phillips.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 July 2025
For Smith and her group, the issue of legal gender recognition touches on who gets to make decisions about women’s lives and bodies, including their access to spaces from hospital wards to rape crisis centers and prisons.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 20 July 2025
And, as her recording career suffered, Francis experienced personal tragedy in 1974 when she was raped at knifepoint in her hotel room after performing at the Westbury Music Fair.
—Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 18 July 2025
Martinez-Velasquez is claiming asylum after allegedly being abducted and raped by cartel members in Mexico.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025
The attacker forced her into a bedroom, raped her, then swiped her phone, a knife and bed sheets before leaving, NBC 4 New York reported.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 27 July 2025
Noun
The thorny debate around what to do with TV shows hosted by those who have faced accusations reared its head Tuesday, when Deadline broke the news that the BBC will not remove content from iPlayer featuring Jay Blades after it was revealed that The Repair Shop presenter is facing rape charges.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Atiba Stanislaus, a farmer in his 20s, received 60 years for manslaughter and an additional 18 years for the rape of Brandel, along with other sentences for other crimes including kidnapping.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Trabuco also likened Rodriguez-Kennedy to victims of lynchings and to the Central Park 5, the group of Black and Latino teenagers in New York City who were wrongly charged, convicted and imprisoned on rape charges and ultimately exonerated.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
Gary Moody back in 1978 was convicted of rape, assault to murder and other charges in connection with raping and repeatedly beating the woman.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 31 July 2025
An additional rape charge against Weinstein was given a mistrial in June of 2025, following jury room tensions.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Estimates of the number of rapes committed vary widely — up to as many as 120,000 — according to data compiled by the researchers, with many reluctant to report the attacks.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
In April 2024, Lateral officer Myron Howard, who was with the department for one year, was charged with rape, criminal confinement, official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 30 July 2025
Thomas Partey, the footballer accused of rape, will feature on the Premier League’s official trading cards when they are released next month — after Arsenal rubber-stamped his inclusion.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 29 July 2025
Verb
The next execution is Kayle Barrington Bates in Florida on Aug. 19 for the 1982 stabbing death of a 24-year-old woman named Janet White, who was kidnapped from her office and taken to the woods before Bates beat her, tried to rape her and ultimately killed her.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Placer County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 27-year-old man suspected of attempting to rape a woman in a park outside Roseville Sunday afternoon — while other deputies on their way to the scene wound up in a car crash.
—Ethan Wolin
august 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
If Hamas hadn’t invaded, butchered and raped Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, there would be zero casualties in Gaza.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 July 2025
One Day in Southport instead features other populist preachers like Carl Benjamin, a YouTuber who espouses the great replacement theory and once openly debated raping Labour lawmaker Jess Phillips.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 July 2025
For Smith and her group, the issue of legal gender recognition touches on who gets to make decisions about women’s lives and bodies, including their access to spaces from hospital wards to rape crisis centers and prisons.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 20 July 2025
And, as her recording career suffered, Francis experienced personal tragedy in 1974 when she was raped at knifepoint in her hotel room after performing at the Westbury Music Fair.
—Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 18 July 2025
Martinez-Velasquez is claiming asylum after allegedly being abducted and raped by cartel members in Mexico.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025
The attacker forced her into a bedroom, raped her, then swiped her phone, a knife and bed sheets before leaving, NBC 4 New York reported.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 27 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
-
But the chase is likely a violation of OPD’s policy on pursuits, which seeks to limit police chases to avoid danger to the public.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The American Medical Association considers direct medical participation in executions a violation of health care ethics, further complicating procedures involving inmates with complex health considerations like Black.—
Tobias Meyjes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
According to Calo, the court order doesn't technically violate OpenAI's terms of service, which say the company must retain data to comply with legal orders.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Any claim or suggestion that Connecticut has violated or is not in compliance with federal law is false.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
-
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
-
Shoulder abduction is mainly performed by the deltoid muscle on top of your shoulders, and supported by the supraspinatus muscle, which is part of the rotator cuff.1 Shoulder abduction is used in many daily activities, such as hanging up clothes, getting dressed, and carrying shopping bags.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
30 July 2025
-
On July 15, Fabian Johnson, 38, was arrested in connection with the abduction.—
Ariela Lopez,
jsonline.com,
21 July 2025
Verb
-
Obama did much of this without Republicans forcing his hand.—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Alex Austin ended Jayden Daniels' last period, knocking away an end-zone pass on fourth-and-six to force a would-be turnover on downs.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share