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 kidnapings
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
The thefts, assaults, and rapes that resulted from these vices often went unpunished, as British commanders prioritized prosecuting the war over protecting civilians. Time, 9 Oct. 2025 Police found 20,000 videos and photographs documenting the rapes, dating back to 2011, the paper reported. Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 Child recruitment by armed gangs surged by 70% last year, while rapes are on the rise. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 Several investigations and studies revealed the facility was plagued with poor infrastructure and mismanagement, rapes, assaults, and allegations of medical malpractice. Pj Green september 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025 The assaults, Quinn’s office said, included indecent touchings and rapes that occurred in the two South Coast communities. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025 Between 1976 and 1986, California investigators searched in vain for the suspect behind 12 homicides, 45 rapes, and 120 burglaries, according to the FBI. Ian Berry, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025 So far this year, police have recorded 100 homicides and 293 rapes, marking a 10 percent and 1 percent year-on-year increase, respectively. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 12 Sep. 2025 Legislators lengthened the state’s deadline to prosecute rapes of adults from 10 to 15 years. Willoughby Mariano, ProPublica, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
  • And there have been 70 weapons violations with a gun this year, versus 43 in 2024.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Players around the league have been receiving weekly fines for unsportsmanlike conduct, player-safety violations, and obscene gestures.
    Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Their lawyers argue that the removal of the books violates federal and state free speech protections.
    Ann Schimke, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The program violates not only the First Amendment but also the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal law about how agencies are allowed to operate, the lawsuit argues.
    David Ingram, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • His daughter-in-law particularly suffered from these nocturnal assaults and became ill.
    Robert Eggers, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Pokrovsk likely remains Russia's priority axis, with the largest proportion of Russian assaults relative to the rest of the frontline.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Russia has denied the allegations, but the court accused Putin of personal responsibility for the abductions.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Now spreading to other Blue states and cities, the LA abductions saw heavy protests in DTLA and Trump federalizing the state’s National Guard and hundreds of Marines to clampdown.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That’s when Section 35, which forces addicts into a civil commitment of up to 90 days, is the tool that’s now being used.
    Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
  • But a few setbacks eventually have Kiki doubting her magical ability, until a time of crisis forces her into action and reveals her true strengths.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapes. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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