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 kidnapping
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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Recent Examples of rape
Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
That staffer was later fired by Collins after posting a social media comment on behalf of the Collins campaign mocking a woman who attempted suicide after accusing Matt Lauer of rape.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 June 2026
The charges include rape, human trafficking, actual bodily harm and controlling prostitution for gain.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Accompanying the violence, both the Naxals and the security forces – including local militia raised to combat the rebels – have been accused of horrific human rights abuses, including abductions, torture and rape.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
The California Constitution defines a large number of offenses where bail can be denied outright, among them rape, burglary and arson.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Prosecutors said a rape kit collected during Kepner’s autopsy included vaginal swabs that tested positive for male DNA, and one swab also tested positive for sperm.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
The video and document attributed to the San Diego suspects were uploaded to an online forum where users share graphic media of murders, suicide, rape and torture.
—Odette Yousef, NPR, 27 May 2026
The Court of Appeal is to review the sentences given to three teenage boys convicted of the rape of two girls in Hampshire.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 May 2026
Peter D'oench, CBS News, 1 June 2026
The statement from Romania's anti-terrorism organization, the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, also alleged that one of the defendants raped a woman twice in March 2022.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Last month, a Santa Monica man, also unaffiliated with the university, was charged with kidnapping a female UCLA student in March to try to rape her.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
The younger sister told the AP that she too was tied up by her mother-in-law and raped by her husband.
—Toqa Ezzidin, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
The man has previously been convicted of attempting to rape an 11-year-old girl in Bronx, New York, in 2006, according to court records.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
The men were accused by 17-year-old Norma Padgett of raping her in the backseat of her and her husband’s car on July 16, 1949.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
The law turned human beings into chattel, allowing them to be worked, beaten, sold, raped and killed — and France never formally did away with it.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
The mass executions of political prisoners in 1988 are well documented—including the fact that some young women among them were first raped by their guards, on the theologically dubious premise that virgins could not be executed.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 27 May 2026
Noun
The subsequent investigation led to seven more women coming forward and accusing Borger, who is charged with seven felonies, including two counts of rape, and four misdemeanors.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
That staffer was later fired by Collins after posting a social media comment on behalf of the Collins campaign mocking a woman who attempted suicide after accusing Matt Lauer of rape.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 June 2026
The charges include rape, human trafficking, actual bodily harm and controlling prostitution for gain.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Accompanying the violence, both the Naxals and the security forces – including local militia raised to combat the rebels – have been accused of horrific human rights abuses, including abductions, torture and rape.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
The California Constitution defines a large number of offenses where bail can be denied outright, among them rape, burglary and arson.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Prosecutors said a rape kit collected during Kepner’s autopsy included vaginal swabs that tested positive for male DNA, and one swab also tested positive for sperm.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
The video and document attributed to the San Diego suspects were uploaded to an online forum where users share graphic media of murders, suicide, rape and torture.
—Odette Yousef, NPR, 27 May 2026
The Court of Appeal is to review the sentences given to three teenage boys convicted of the rape of two girls in Hampshire.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 May 2026
Verb
Investigators say the 12-year-old girl alleged she was taken to a community garden in Overtown, restrained and then raped.
—Peter D'oench, CBS News, 1 June 2026
The statement from Romania's anti-terrorism organization, the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, also alleged that one of the defendants raped a woman twice in March 2022.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Last month, a Santa Monica man, also unaffiliated with the university, was charged with kidnapping a female UCLA student in March to try to rape her.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
The younger sister told the AP that she too was tied up by her mother-in-law and raped by her husband.
—Toqa Ezzidin, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
The man has previously been convicted of attempting to rape an 11-year-old girl in Bronx, New York, in 2006, according to court records.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
The men were accused by 17-year-old Norma Padgett of raping her in the backseat of her and her husband’s car on July 16, 1949.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
The law turned human beings into chattel, allowing them to be worked, beaten, sold, raped and killed — and France never formally did away with it.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
The mass executions of political prisoners in 1988 are well documented—including the fact that some young women among them were first raped by their guards, on the theologically dubious premise that virgins could not be executed.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
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Barbara Goodman, the assistant administrator, stated that Awana—the behavioral health company run through Glory to God (GTG)—received a 30-day Medicaid termination notice in May without explanation, despite never being audited or receiving a violation.—
Morgan Rynor,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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Citing violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, Williams issued a preliminary injunction ordering the closure of Alligator Alcatraz within 60 days.—
Eric Schlosser,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Yes, Stolen Baby is based on the real-life murder of Broussard and the kidnapping of her daughter, Margo Elizabeth Carey.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
But a week after reporting the kidnapping, investigators arrested the couple at their Cabazon home after determining that Emmanuel was most likely dead and the couple had faked their story.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The complaint alleges the defendants failed to manufacture, supply and serve food safe for human consumption and violated federal food safety laws and USDA performance standards governing ground beef.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
Several speakers challenged Polis' argument that the bill could violate free speech protections.—
Jamie Leary,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Between 2012 and 2015, Perry was also convicted of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, domestic violence, possession of ammunition as a felon and fleeing from police in Sacramento County, according to the criminal complaint.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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Today, not only are these conditions under assault by a kleptocratic, nativist US federal government, but the clock seems also to be running out on their own internal contradictions.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
What follows is a series of unexpected events that may or may not be connected, including secret government programs, a demonic cult, scandalous affairs, and an alien abduction.—
Keith Langston,
Space.com,
31 May 2026
-
Accompanying the violence, both the Naxals and the security forces – including local militia raised to combat the rebels – have been accused of horrific human rights abuses, including abductions, torture and rape.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The Trojans must beat the Aggies to force a winner-take-all game Monday at a time to be determined.—
Jose de Jesus Ortiz,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
Anyone with livestock has been forced to leave.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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