rapes 1 of 2

plural of rape
1
as in violations
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 abductions
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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rapes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rape
as in violates
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 rapes
Noun
Studies from West Virginia and Ohio show that being able to tie rapes across borders to one criminal prevents other crimes and can save communities millions. Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 16 July 2026 Germany recorded 751 cases categorized as group rapes in 2025, according to the federal government’s response to a parliamentary inquiry submitted by the opposition Alternative für Deutschland party. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026 The statute of limitations on these rapes expired decades ago. Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Meanwhile, at least 681 rapes were reported from January to July 2025, with activists noting that unreported cases are much higher. ABC News, 18 June 2026 Three men, including Jackman, have all been tied to serial rapes in the Westport area in the 1980s. Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026 The fighting has fueled additional killings, rapes and for-ransom kidnappings. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 June 2026 The forensic scientists were able to pull a partial print from the crime scene and later matched it to Robert Napper — a man who had already been convicted of killing Bisset and her daughter and been connected to a string of rapes. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Verb
In that film’s story, Insiang (Hilda Koronel) metes out revenge against Dado (Ruel Vernal), her hateful mother’s lover, who rapes her after rejecting his advances. Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 10 July 2026 Through these photos, Dominique Pelicot is not ‘just’ casting an incestuous gaze on me, as was said during the investigation and the Mazan rapes trial. Time, Time, 7 Apr. 2026 And when her brother-in-law, Stanley (Marlon Brando), rapes her, her descent into madness was made all the more vivid and believable by Leigh's precise depiction of vulnerability and instability. Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026 The girl vomited and went to lie down where Marino allegedly rapes her, the prosecutor added. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026 Soon after police arrested Bernardo for the Scarborough rapes, he and Homolka were also linked to the murders of three teenage girls between 1990 and 1992, according to CTV News. Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025 At the end of that game, Alma psychically rapes the protagonist, a psychic soldier named Beckett, and becomes pregnant with another child. Will Borger, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025 Lanier rapes Forsythe during a job interview, which O’Brien recounts in upsetting, unwavering detail. Jared Sullivan, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024 Donald treats Ivana with similar contempt, and then rapes her. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapes
Noun
  • Here are the inspection scores and violations for restaurants that Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) inspected for July 5th - July 11th, 2026.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Four lobbyists who persuaded their clients to pay tour expenses, but did not report them, now face misdemeanor violations of the gift ban.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • But the government’s killings, torture, and abductions continued for years after the final whistle had blown.
    Minky Worden, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • His unit has investigated gang activity, murders, abductions.
    Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Iran has said this violates the memorandum of understanding signed last month between Iran and the United States.
    NPR Staff, NPR, 17 July 2026
  • If legislation violates those rules, the Senate has to throw it out.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Russia has been doing this since the start of the war, terrorizing Ukrainian cities with aerial assaults that have killed thousands of civilians and crippled much of the country’s energy grid for months on end.
    Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
  • Her case may finally move forward in court after a recent Charlotte Observer investigation about assaults on CATS bus drivers prompted the district attorney to reexamine the incident.
    Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • In 2025, 1,268 kidnappings were reported, a nearly 40% drop from the 2,058 kidnapping reported the previous year, the report stated.
    Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
  • In the '30s, when the Lindbergh baby was abducted, kidnappings and ransoms were so common that high-profile people often secured kidnapping insurance.
    Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The series, which has 57 parts, tells the story of two couples on a double date that descends into chaos after a mysterious figure hacks their personal devices and forces them to reveal their secrets to each other.
    Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • In this downward spiral, an unexpected encounter forces him to confront his limits.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapes. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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