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
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Hoiby has pleaded guilty to several relatively minor offenses, but denies the rapes.
—CBS News, 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
Berkeley police announced Friday that a multiagency, multistate investigation had linked a series of rapes and kidnappings in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and Texas — going back to 1994 — to a Texas man who was identified through DNA.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2026
The three-week case centers on the Myanmar authorities’ 2019 offensive against the Rohingya population, in which hundreds of thousands were driven into neighbouring Bangladesh alongside reports of mass killings, rapes, and other acts of violence.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
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
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
Hoiby has pleaded guilty to several relatively minor offenses, but denies the rapes.
—CBS News, 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
Berkeley police announced Friday that a multiagency, multistate investigation had linked a series of rapes and kidnappings in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and Texas — going back to 1994 — to a Texas man who was identified through DNA.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2026
The three-week case centers on the Myanmar authorities’ 2019 offensive against the Rohingya population, in which hundreds of thousands were driven into neighbouring Bangladesh alongside reports of mass killings, rapes, and other acts of violence.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
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
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However, the amnesty explicitly excludes those convicted or prosecuted for homicide, drug trafficking, corruption, grave human rights violations, crimes against humanity and war crimes.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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The legislation excludes people accused of involvement in military rebellions or coups, as well as those charged with serious crimes such as human-rights violations, intentional homicide, drug trafficking and corruption.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The abductions add to questions about Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s security improvements promised since taking office.—
Aarón Ibarra,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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By then, investigators were starting to connect him to a string of abductions and murders.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This violates the 4th Amendment, which protects people (including noncitizens) from unreasonable searches and seizures in their homes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
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The International Olympic Committee said the helmet violates its rules on athlete expression during competition.—
Mike Wilson,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Mejia has four prior arrests, including assaults in 2019 and 2022, and a DUI in 2020, cops said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Police are investigating a string of violent late-night robberies in the Bella Vista and Hawthorne neighborhoods of South Philadelphia, after five assaults over the past month left some victims injured.—
Ross DiMattei,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 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
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In a heartbreaking end to season 2, Peter forces Rose to promise to stay away from him for her own safety.—
Ashley Boucher,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
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Lawmakers have reintroduced the Credit Card Competition Act, which forces issuers to put two unaffiliated networks on each card, allowing merchants to pick the cheaper one at the point of sale.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapes. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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