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
Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
No More Shame, which focuses on the shocking rape trial of Gisèle Pelicot.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
After the attack, the victim’s best friend urged her not to shower, allowing investigators to collect a rape kit that would later become crucial evidence.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Over the summer, Marius was charged with 32 crimes, including rape, domestic violence and assault, one year after his initial arrest, and if convicted, faces up to 10 years in prison.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
In Italy, a bill to introduce consent as the central element in defining rape was proposed in February last year and is under review.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Eiichi Yamamoto’s expressionistic picture, adapted from Jules Michelet’s non-fiction Satanism and Witchcraft, initially seems to be a rape-revenge setup fairly typical of the ’70s.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
The court sentenced him to three years in prison, the minimum for rape in Sweden, and ordered him to pay 240,000 Swedish krona, about $25,600, in damages.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Lehmann pleaded guilty to child rape in 2018.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
During their time together, Wuornos alleged that Mallory raped, beat and sodomized her, according to her testimony, and per the Associated Press.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
According to the movie, closely adapted by Roman Polanski from a 1967 novel by Ira Levin, Guy has colluded with the neighbors to have Rosemary raped and impregnated by Satan.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
An investigation initiated after their deaths discovered that Pearce had raped several women across more than a decade.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
For the rest of the movie, Paola must try to escape being killed and raped by the duo.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
He was convicted of raping and killing a 6-year-old girl in 1979 after entering through a window and abducting her from her central Florida home.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Grim attacked her with a hammer and a knife and raped and killed her, according to court records, which say she had been bludgeoned 18 times and stabbed 11 times, mostly in the heart.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
The 49-year-old is currently serving 30 years to life behind bars after he was found guilty of raping two women in his Hollywood-area home in 2003, amid the height of his sitcom fame.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
The organization announced an investigation by outside law firm Omnia Strategy in January 2024 after allegations of human rights abuses, including rape and torture.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
No More Shame, which focuses on the shocking rape trial of Gisèle Pelicot.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
After the attack, the victim’s best friend urged her not to shower, allowing investigators to collect a rape kit that would later become crucial evidence.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Over the summer, Marius was charged with 32 crimes, including rape, domestic violence and assault, one year after his initial arrest, and if convicted, faces up to 10 years in prison.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
In Italy, a bill to introduce consent as the central element in defining rape was proposed in February last year and is under review.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Eiichi Yamamoto’s expressionistic picture, adapted from Jules Michelet’s non-fiction Satanism and Witchcraft, initially seems to be a rape-revenge setup fairly typical of the ’70s.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
The court sentenced him to three years in prison, the minimum for rape in Sweden, and ordered him to pay 240,000 Swedish krona, about $25,600, in damages.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Lehmann pleaded guilty to child rape in 2018.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Abernathy alleged that Simmons raped her in 1983, while Abrams claimed Simmons raped her a decade later in 1994.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
During their time together, Wuornos alleged that Mallory raped, beat and sodomized her, according to her testimony, and per the Associated Press.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
According to the movie, closely adapted by Roman Polanski from a 1967 novel by Ira Levin, Guy has colluded with the neighbors to have Rosemary raped and impregnated by Satan.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
An investigation initiated after their deaths discovered that Pearce had raped several women across more than a decade.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
For the rest of the movie, Paola must try to escape being killed and raped by the duo.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
He was convicted of raping and killing a 6-year-old girl in 1979 after entering through a window and abducting her from her central Florida home.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Grim attacked her with a hammer and a knife and raped and killed her, according to court records, which say she had been bludgeoned 18 times and stabbed 11 times, mostly in the heart.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
The 49-year-old is currently serving 30 years to life behind bars after he was found guilty of raping two women in his Hollywood-area home in 2003, amid the height of his sitcom fame.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
-
The most common template for an insider trading violation is as follows.—
Samidh Guha,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In Chicago, the indelible image of a pastor in a clerical collar shot in the head with a pepper ball by agents standing on the rooftop of an ICE building is a direct violation of CBP’s use of force policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
One of its founders, William da Silva Lima, spent more than 30 years behind bars after being convicted of armed robbery, extortion and kidnapping.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The kidnapping, and Hannibal Lecter's confinement in a ballroom take place in Memphis.—
Keith Sharon,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In August 2024, the Hales Corners Library Board voted unanimously to keep the books in the library's circulation and concluded Lewis-Lane and library staff did not violate library policies.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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But Comey's attorneys raised separate concerns that by using those materials at all, the government may have violated Comey's rights -- not just by reviewing potentially privileged information, but also by revisiting evidence obtained by warrants that would now be considered stale.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In addition to the murder charge, Thompson faces charges of committing a terroristic act, aggravated assault, engaging in violent criminal group activity and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to the jail roster.—
Rafael Escalera Montoto,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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He is being held on a $2 million bond for a murder charge and must pay $200,000, as well as a $5,000 bond for an assault charge, to be released.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
While colectivo members were largely quiet immediately after Maduro’s abduction, some videos released on social media and news outlets have shown men believed to be colectivo members harassing reporters and people in the streets.—
Rebecca Hanson,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
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Justice Department opinion allows ‘forcible abductions’ abroad In ordering Noriega’s removal, the White House relied on a 1989 legal opinion by then-Assistant Attorney General Bill Barr, issued six months before the invasion.—
Joshua Goodman,
Fortune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The system adapts to tone and intent without forcing app switching or blank-page starts.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
She and other members of both houses and both parties were evacuated for their safety for several hours as rioters forced their way into the Capitol that day.—
David Staats,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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