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
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 16 June 2026
The 55-year-old would have been facing a life sentence had he been convicted of initial charges that included first-degree rape, simple criminal damage to property, domestic abuse battery by strangulation, simple robbery, and false imprisonment in the assault.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 June 2026
In March, a lawyer for Partey said the player intends to plead not guilty to two new charges of rape after a woman alleged Partey twice raped her on the same day in December 2020.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
After being released in 2010, he was also indicted in 2017 on separate rape and kidnapping charges and spent 18 months in jail before being released on a $3 million bond, according to the Associated Press.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
The embassy said three rapes involving jet ski operators were reported in 2024.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
Hoiby, 29, had pleaded not guilty to the most severe accusations against him, including those of rape, while admitting to some lesser ones, and can appeal the verdict.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Oslo District Court ruled on Monday, June 15, that 29-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, who joined the royal family when his mother Mette-Marit married Haakon in 2001, was guilty of two counts of rape, including one in the basement of the crown prince's home.
—Gwladys Fouche, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was sentenced to four years in prison Monday after being convicted of rape.
—Mark Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Dan Raby, CBS News, 15 June 2026
But two weeks before Harris accepted the nomination, Israeli media aired footage of guards appearing to rape a Palestinian prisoner.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Vallejo then brandished a bottle at the victim and threatened to kill her, before removing her clothes and raping her, officials said.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026
Some Epstein associates have been charged with crimes including Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent accused of abuse by a prominent Epstein victim; Brunel died by suicide in a Paris prison after an arrest in 2020 on charges of raping minors.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Partey is accused of raping four women from 2020 to 2022.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
An Oroville man and accused cult leader was sentenced to 225 years in prison Tuesday for molesting four young girls and raping two women from the group, authorities said.
—Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Shortly after her kidnapping, Phillip raped Jaycee and would continue to do so for years.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
According to his own brother’s testimony, Sochor raped and murdered Gifford, then hid her body, which has never been found.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2026
Noun
In 2017, Mayorga hired a new legal team and the allegation of rape was made public, prompting the Las Vegas Police to reopen the case and issue a warrant for a DNA sample from Ronaldo in January.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 16 June 2026
The 55-year-old would have been facing a life sentence had he been convicted of initial charges that included first-degree rape, simple criminal damage to property, domestic abuse battery by strangulation, simple robbery, and false imprisonment in the assault.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 June 2026
In March, a lawyer for Partey said the player intends to plead not guilty to two new charges of rape after a woman alleged Partey twice raped her on the same day in December 2020.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
After being released in 2010, he was also indicted in 2017 on separate rape and kidnapping charges and spent 18 months in jail before being released on a $3 million bond, according to the Associated Press.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
The embassy said three rapes involving jet ski operators were reported in 2024.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
Hoiby, 29, had pleaded not guilty to the most severe accusations against him, including those of rape, while admitting to some lesser ones, and can appeal the verdict.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Oslo District Court ruled on Monday, June 15, that 29-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, who joined the royal family when his mother Mette-Marit married Haakon in 2001, was guilty of two counts of rape, including one in the basement of the crown prince's home.
—Gwladys Fouche, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was sentenced to four years in prison Monday after being convicted of rape.
—Mark Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Verb
Carina McCue testified that her husband had confessed to raping their oldest daughter, who was still a minor at the time of the fire.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 15 June 2026
But two weeks before Harris accepted the nomination, Israeli media aired footage of guards appearing to rape a Palestinian prisoner.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Vallejo then brandished a bottle at the victim and threatened to kill her, before removing her clothes and raping her, officials said.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026
Some Epstein associates have been charged with crimes including Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent accused of abuse by a prominent Epstein victim; Brunel died by suicide in a Paris prison after an arrest in 2020 on charges of raping minors.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Partey is accused of raping four women from 2020 to 2022.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
An Oroville man and accused cult leader was sentenced to 225 years in prison Tuesday for molesting four young girls and raping two women from the group, authorities said.
—Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Shortly after her kidnapping, Phillip raped Jaycee and would continue to do so for years.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
According to his own brother’s testimony, Sochor raped and murdered Gifford, then hid her body, which has never been found.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
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The California Fair Political Practices Commission said 34 of the violations were for failing to report on time that Newsom and his staff directed outreach from companies and foundations that wanted to help after the Los Angeles wildfires to the California Fire Foundation.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Stanley’s statement came amidst a major lawsuit by the NAACP against Grok’s parent company, xAI, for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Issa Hamade and Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
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Investigators learned that Canon was in custody at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility on unrelated charges and arrested him for kidnapping, child endangerment, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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In 2014, Smith served a nine-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2026
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He was suspended multiple times during his career for infractions including violating the league's substance abuse and personal conduct policy.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Noun
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Brianna and Kierianna Long now face several charges in connection with the May 30 incident, including assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to local reports.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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He was also convicted of assault and abuse in close relationships.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Noun
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More than three decades after the abduction and killing of a Granite Bay mother shocked Placer County, the man accused of the crime has pleaded guilty and agreed to spend the rest of his life in prison.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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The movement emerged after the abduction and killing of Lyhanna in late May and intensified as the suspect’s history came to light.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Initiative, dubbed a ‘Swiss Brexit,’ sought binding limits by 2050, forcing strict curbs on asylum, family reunification and work permits, potentially dismantling Switzerland’s deal on free movement of people and close EU ties.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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Britain has increasingly toughened its approach to tech companies in recent years, urging or forcing them to impose age verification, adapt their algorithms and, most recently, prevent children from circulating nude images taken on mobile phones.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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