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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rapes
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Canada, for example, stressed the need to protect women and girls, who are being subjected to horrific rapes by criminal gangs.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
The number of rapes has increased dramatically, to 310 last year from 198 in 2015.
—Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Homolka and Bernardo would go on to commit two more rapes and murders together.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
Celebrations of diversity were erupting across the state — rapes in Kingston, incestuous underage pregnancies in Marlboro, a motel torched in Sutton, AR-15-toting fentanyl dealers in Revere….
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
Homicides, for instance, have dropped by about 12%, and rapes have gone down by nearly 17%.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
For a couple of years, the statistics that are coming out show more violence, more rapes, more murders, femicides.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
Murders and assaults in Minnesota dropped in 2024 while rapes and robberies rose, according to statistics released this week by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
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
The number of rapes reported in the city fell by 18% with 45 reports this year compared to 55 incidents through the first three weeks of December in 2024.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Canada, for example, stressed the need to protect women and girls, who are being subjected to horrific rapes by criminal gangs.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
The number of rapes has increased dramatically, to 310 last year from 198 in 2015.
—Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Homolka and Bernardo would go on to commit two more rapes and murders together.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
Celebrations of diversity were erupting across the state — rapes in Kingston, incestuous underage pregnancies in Marlboro, a motel torched in Sutton, AR-15-toting fentanyl dealers in Revere….
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
Homicides, for instance, have dropped by about 12%, and rapes have gone down by nearly 17%.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
For a couple of years, the statistics that are coming out show more violence, more rapes, more murders, femicides.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
Murders and assaults in Minnesota dropped in 2024 while rapes and robberies rose, according to statistics released this week by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
-
There hasn’t been a municipal court determination, no dangerous animal designations or violations, nor citations against her or Oakley, Skelton said.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2026
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The city’s suit alleges seven causes of action against the defendants, including trespass, public nuisance and several violations of the Administrative Procedures Act.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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These scams do not involve real abductions.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit alleges the freeze is based on unsupported allegations of social services fraud and violates Congress’ spending power.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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The association has argued that Measure ULA violates both the state’s constitution and the Los Angeles City Charter.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Federal officials have said agents, including those part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are seeing increases in assaults and threats against them.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
-
As in previous years, almost all the assaults on responsible growth management start with the premise that local government leaders can’t be trusted to guide (or even listen to) their own communities.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On the other hand, statins lower LDL cholesterol by blocking an enzyme in the liver, which then forces the liver to remove more LDL cholesterol from the body.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Nonetheless, Williams’ presence on the field alone forces LSU’s defense to account for him at all times due to his big-play ability.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapes. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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