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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Recent Examples of rape
Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
Spending four days on the witness stand, Ventura accused Combs of rape as well as physical and emotional abuse.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 June 2025
The jury couldn't reach a verdict and is still deliberating on the third-degree rape charge involving actress Jessica Mann, who said the former Miramax chief raped her in a New York hotel room in 2013.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 11 June 2025
But the trial continued, and the jury began Wednesday by re-hearing Mann’s testimony about Weinstein’s alleged rape in 2013.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 11 June 2025
Federal prosecutors, who last month amended the original indictment, say the three brothers used their wealth and celebrity — and often drugs — to prey on and rape women, sometimes at their Manhattan apartments, other times after transporting them across state lines to Miami Beach.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 June 2025
Included as options as part of the survey are the following potential reasons: financial stress, rape, fetal disabilities, or the health of the mother.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025
Jeremy Cornell Jackson, 38, is charged with rape, a Level 3 felony.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
Hardin pleaded guilty to charges related to the rape.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 June 2025
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 8 June 2025
The family moved but the gang threatened to rape and kill Abrego Garcia’s sisters, court records state.
—Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
Then, investigators say, the brothers often drugged the women before raping them.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025
Smart’s captors subjected her to rape daily, something that drove her to the point of contemplating suicide.
—Stephanie Kaloi, People.com, 5 June 2025
Buy digital billboards and metro ad space that list the outrageous fee increases, the number of carjackings, the number of Marylanders attacked, raped or killed by undocumented immigrants, the number of criminal juveniles released to commit additional crimes.
—Michelle Jefferson, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2025
Bella shares that she was also raped, by her father, ultimately leading her to ruin his life and reputation with the Antoine deal.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 1 June 2025
According to LaBella’s lawsuit, Costner, the director, improvised a scene in which Hunt’s character would be raped.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 28 May 2025
In the meantime, four other women in the U.K. have continued with a separate lawsuit against Andrew Tate, accusing him in a civil proceeding of having raped and physically abused them, and insisting police and prosecutors had failed them by declining to pursue criminal charges several years ago.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 28 May 2025
Noun
On Wednesday, the jury had yet to reach a verdict on rape in the third degree, but jurors were sent home midday amid concerns about fighting and tensions in the jury room.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
Spending four days on the witness stand, Ventura accused Combs of rape as well as physical and emotional abuse.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 June 2025
The jury couldn't reach a verdict and is still deliberating on the third-degree rape charge involving actress Jessica Mann, who said the former Miramax chief raped her in a New York hotel room in 2013.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 11 June 2025
But the trial continued, and the jury began Wednesday by re-hearing Mann’s testimony about Weinstein’s alleged rape in 2013.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 11 June 2025
Federal prosecutors, who last month amended the original indictment, say the three brothers used their wealth and celebrity — and often drugs — to prey on and rape women, sometimes at their Manhattan apartments, other times after transporting them across state lines to Miami Beach.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 June 2025
Included as options as part of the survey are the following potential reasons: financial stress, rape, fetal disabilities, or the health of the mother.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025
Jeremy Cornell Jackson, 38, is charged with rape, a Level 3 felony.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
Hardin pleaded guilty to charges related to the rape.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 June 2025
Verb
She had been raped and shot twice in the back of the head.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 8 June 2025
The family moved but the gang threatened to rape and kill Abrego Garcia’s sisters, court records state.
—Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
Then, investigators say, the brothers often drugged the women before raping them.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025
Smart’s captors subjected her to rape daily, something that drove her to the point of contemplating suicide.
—Stephanie Kaloi, People.com, 5 June 2025
Buy digital billboards and metro ad space that list the outrageous fee increases, the number of carjackings, the number of Marylanders attacked, raped or killed by undocumented immigrants, the number of criminal juveniles released to commit additional crimes.
—Michelle Jefferson, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2025
Bella shares that she was also raped, by her father, ultimately leading her to ruin his life and reputation with the Antoine deal.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 1 June 2025
According to LaBella’s lawsuit, Costner, the director, improvised a scene in which Hunt’s character would be raped.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 28 May 2025
In the meantime, four other women in the U.K. have continued with a separate lawsuit against Andrew Tate, accusing him in a civil proceeding of having raped and physically abused them, and insisting police and prosecutors had failed them by declining to pursue criminal charges several years ago.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 28 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
-
Those participating in races can receive up to a $250 fine and/or up to 30 days in jail on the first violation, up to a $500 fine and/or up to 60 days in jail for the second violation, and up to a $1,000 fine and/or and up to six months in jail for a third.—
Alecia Taylor,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2025
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Consequences: Recognize and reward positive behaviors and address violations through appropriate accountability measures.—
Stephen M. Paskoff,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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In that suit, plaintiffs claimed that Blue Cross violated antitrust laws.—
Lucas Dufalla,
Arkansas Online,
17 June 2025
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Seven residents sued, claiming that the book removals were based on content and therefore violated their First Amendment rights.—
Anthony Aycock
June 17,
Literary Hub,
17 June 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
-
In the 23 years that have followed since Elizabeth’s abduction, Ed and Lois have spoken out on the trauma their family endured on numerous occasions.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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Attacks on girls’ schools and the abduction of girls at school or on the way to school have frequently targeted girls’ education because of harmful gender norms.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Despite Anna’s meticulous preparations, her intent to force confessions from the passengers and deliver them directly to authorities is immediately derailed when just hours into the trip one of her guests is murdered.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
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Whether that’s a trial site, a community center or the patient’s workplace, this model removes friction from both ends: Participants aren’t forced to travel, and sponsors don’t have to wait for overwhelmed sites to come online.—
Sonali Bloom,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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