rape 1 of 2

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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rape

2 of 2

verb

as in to violate
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent the defendant accused of raping the victim

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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
Noun
Very few people in the area drive that model, and only one of them has a prior rape conviction—Mike. Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 16 May 2025 Even then, the rapes and abuse continued, Ms. Soudani said. Christopher Maag, New York Times, 15 May 2025 The lawsuit accuses other officers of assault, battery, false imprisonment and rape, and says the department is to blame because of negligence. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025 Friends and partners Sasa and Kalle once shared a vision of justice — now, with one embroiled in a personal rape case and the other defending a high-profile gang member, their ideals and loyalties begin to unravel. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2025 Diddy’s alleged rape was just one of the many horrors that Cassie described during her time on the stand. Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 14 May 2025 So, in November 2023, Ventura filed a civil lawsuit against Combs, accusing him of rape and years of physical abuse. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 14 May 2025 In her lawsuit filed in November 2023, Ventura accused Combs of subjecting her to years of rape, beatings, and psychological manipulation. Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 Gary Ramirez, 78, of Hawaii was sentenced Monday after pleading no contest to the brutal 1982 rape and murder of Karen Stitt, the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office announced. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
Verb
Fred and Rose West were accused of raping, torturing, and killing at least 12 people over more than 20 years. Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 In 2022, he was accused of drugging and raping a woman on a yacht in 2020 in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Court. Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 16 May 2025 Ventura filed the first prominent civil lawsuit against Combs in 2023, alleging that the rapper and record executive had physically assaulted, trafficked and raped her. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR, 16 May 2025 The outlet reported that Rossman then forced himself on the 15-year-old and raped her in the bed of his truck parked inside. Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 15 May 2025 DeSantis last week also signed a death warrant for Anthony Wainwright, who was convicted of kidnapping a woman in 1994 from a Winn-Dixie supermarket parking lot in Lake City and raping and murdering her in rural Hamilton County. Victoria Ballard, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2025 Attorneys for the brothers ask the Los Angeles County District Court to reconsider their convictions and sentencing in light of a new affidavit claiming Jose Menendez raped a 14-year-old boy in 1983 or 1984. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025 Ventura told the jury that after a break-up, she was raped by Combs. Alice Gainer, CBS News, 14 May 2025 Brueckner, who was convicted in 2019 for raping a 72-year-old woman, has denied any involvement with the missing toddler. Emily Blackwood, People.com, 3 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
  • The complaint at the crux of Lopez v. Apple is a violation of privacy.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Rose agreed to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball that concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.
    Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Penalties for violating the new rule can exceed $50,000.
    Monica Pitrelli,Bella Stoddart, CNBC, 12 May 2025
  • That was when the makers, Epic Games, included a direct payment option into the app, which violated Apple’s rules.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 12 May 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
  • The court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine, as well as five other officials.
    Molly Quell, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
  • The false premise that mass deportation would only target those already with an undocumented status has helped grease the wheels for sweeping abductions of individuals and families who have been living peacefully and working hard in communities across the country.
    Karen Tumlin, Time, 6 May 2025
Verb
  • Some have succeeded in slashing sales and forcing policy changes.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • Fans are forced to watch that terrifying accident all over again — knowing exactly what's about to happen.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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