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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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
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Recent Examples of rapes
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
And there was a reduction, dramatic reduction in the number of rapes and other violent crimes.
—Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
The number of rapes increased by 50%.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Beer that turned green − possibly a chemical reaction with the drugs Dominque Pelicot had been slipping into her drinks and food to render her unconscious for the rapes.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murders and 13 rapes in 2020, and was later handed multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Columbus, Ohio, saw dramatic drops in every category, including rapes, down to 678 last year from 1,116 in 2024.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
During the nine-month-long ordeal, the then-14-year-old was subjected to daily rapes and endured physical abuse and starvation.
—Stephanie Kaloi, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Assaults involving several attackers accounted for 65% of the rapes.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
The two have always had an uneasy relationship, but in the series' first episode, Constance’s son Willem (Toby Hemingway) rapes Fiona’s daughter Dahlia (Diana Silvers), and is murdered by the Nolan family because of it.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
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
Noun
South Africa has a very low conviction rate for rapes, with only around 8% of those reported in 2021 resulting in convictions.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
And there was a reduction, dramatic reduction in the number of rapes and other violent crimes.
—Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
The number of rapes increased by 50%.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Beer that turned green − possibly a chemical reaction with the drugs Dominque Pelicot had been slipping into her drinks and food to render her unconscious for the rapes.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murders and 13 rapes in 2020, and was later handed multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Columbus, Ohio, saw dramatic drops in every category, including rapes, down to 678 last year from 1,116 in 2024.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
During the nine-month-long ordeal, the then-14-year-old was subjected to daily rapes and endured physical abuse and starvation.
—Stephanie Kaloi, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Assaults involving several attackers accounted for 65% of the rapes.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
The girl vomited and went to lie down where Marino allegedly rapes her, the prosecutor added.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
The two have always had an uneasy relationship, but in the series' first episode, Constance’s son Willem (Toby Hemingway) rapes Fiona’s daughter Dahlia (Diana Silvers), and is murdered by the Nolan family because of it.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
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
-
Many of those with convictions are for minor offenses, including traffic violations.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Attorney General Ken Paxton warned the Austin Independent School District that it could be fined $5,000 daily for alleged violations of Texas' new bathroom bill.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The statistics later proved to be exaggerated, Renfro said, but the concerns remained, bolstered by a series of disturbing, high-profile abductions, including the Hollywood abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh that thrust his father John Walsh into the spotlight.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
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From February 2025 to February 2026, 53% of all abductions were of people in that age range.—
Elise Hammond,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The complaint requested that the judge find the administration’s policy violates the First and Fifth Amendments and bar it from being implemented.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
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The attack on the oil depots could be construed as chemical warfare, which violates international law, because the aggressors likely knew the hazards the civilians who live in Tehran would face, Cleetus said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Over the past year, assaults against ICE personnel have risen 8,000%, according to the DHS, and federal police have opted to hide their faces and identities while working in public.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
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In 2024, the county recorded 6,323 assaults, of which 205 involved firearms.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
-
Lee forces a foul call after a drive to the rim.—
American-Statesman staff,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
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After hours of scrutiny, debate and amendments, the council voted 9-6 to approve a compromise resolution that forces the city to pursue those two tracks and bars consultants that recently assessed the building’s conditions bidding on contracts related to the project.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapes. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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