1
as in violation
a breaking of a moral or legal code
acts that are transgressions against the laws of civilized societies everywhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in infringement
a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation
a dying woman asking for divine forgiveness for a lifetime of transgressions
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of transgression
Miss Manners is at least relieved that your family’s transgressions are limited to eating sloppily, which doesn’t harm others.
—
Judith Martin, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
And it’s been hard lately not to notice the trend toward more flagrant male transgression out in the open—more performative vice signaling among some of the most powerful people in the world.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
These transgressions had gone down famously well, but Tomlinson was still, in some ways, working through the emotional fallout of a conservative-Christian upbringing and a career forged in the parallel universe of the Christian comedy circuit.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
His work has received more than two dozen national awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in 1987 with two colleagues for a series revealing transgressions in the Philadelphia court system.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for transgression
Judith Martin, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
And it’s been hard lately not to notice the trend toward more flagrant male transgression out in the open—more performative vice signaling among some of the most powerful people in the world.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
These transgressions had gone down famously well, but Tomlinson was still, in some ways, working through the emotional fallout of a conservative-Christian upbringing and a career forged in the parallel universe of the Christian comedy circuit.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
His work has received more than two dozen national awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in 1987 with two colleagues for a series revealing transgressions in the Philadelphia court system.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for transgression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transgression
Noun
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Peters was found guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant and one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with the requirements of the secretary of state.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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Passengers who get banned from travel or booted off the plane for this violation may be eligible for a refund upon request, United adds.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Late last year, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group signed major licensing deals with the AI music studios Stability AI and Udio — with both music labels settling their copyright infringement lawsuits against Udio.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Rouhani criticized it as an infringement on Iranians' political participation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lewis and Peters were each convicted of attempting to influence a public servant, but also convicted of additional, different crimes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
-
He never was charged with a crime, according to the complaint.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Reading Nicholas Mosley’s nonfiction reveals a writer concerned with the sins of the past, with political maneuvering at the highest levels of government, and of personal and ideological betrayals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
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Robert Bresson, in seeking the essence of sin and grace in the slightest gesture, largely eschewed professionals in order to distill performance to embodiment.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Transgression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transgression. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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