1
as in breaks
to fail to keep
you've violated the company's rule against smoking within 30 feet of the building
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroys
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect
the invaders violated the temple by using it to stable their horses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rapes
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent
criminal statutes delineating acts that constitute violating another person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of violates
If Khan violates the terms of his probation, the court could impose the eight-year prison sentence, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
If LaPlaca violates the terms of the PTI program, she could be prosecuted for the child abuse charge.
—Joe Brandt, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
This violates the recently passed Epstein files release law.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
It can be revoked if Lynas violates its conditions, Chang said.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
Anyone who violates the law would face a misdemeanor charge on a first offense; subsequent violations would result in a felony charge.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently threw out the charges, declaring that the federal law violates the Second Amendment right to own a gun, and the Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 2 Mar. 2026
Announcing a voter’s party preference out loud violates that rule.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2026
According to the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, drone warfare often violates international law.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
If LaPlaca violates the terms of the PTI program, she could be prosecuted for the child abuse charge.
—Joe Brandt, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
This violates the recently passed Epstein files release law.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
It can be revoked if Lynas violates its conditions, Chang said.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
Anyone who violates the law would face a misdemeanor charge on a first offense; subsequent violations would result in a felony charge.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently threw out the charges, declaring that the federal law violates the Second Amendment right to own a gun, and the Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 2 Mar. 2026
Announcing a voter’s party preference out loud violates that rule.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2026
According to the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, drone warfare often violates international law.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violates
Verb
-
Padilla breaks a few times, channeling Heidi Gardner, and the crowd gets amused.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Moore is not that, and there are times when his lack of breakdown or setup steps keeps the defender in his hip pocket as Moore breaks on his route.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, as with alcohol, gambling also destroys lives.—
Jim Nowlan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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Israel routinely destroys equipment meant for reconstruction; Human Rights Watch found that Israel had destroyed more than 360 heavy machines — bulldozers, excavators, and factories producing asphalt and cement — in four different attacks in south Lebanon.—
Justin Salhani,
The Dial,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
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Ukraine's skeleton racer and flag bearer Vladyslav Heraskevych was seen wearing his helmet honoring athletes from his country who were killed during the war with Russia in training this afternoon, despite the IOC saying earlier that the helmet contravenes the Olympic Charter guidelines.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Trump seems unconcerned that extorting his partners contravenes the principles of what was designed as a free-trade accord.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Nothing beats cuteness except watching violence be enacted upon the cuteness; like an aural Happy Tree Friends, Skulls tosses pom-poms of fuzz into the sky then desecrates them.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
17 Dec. 2025
-
In the world of Monster, a person who takes lives and desecrates corpses might someday be capable of redemption.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The White House told ProPublica that anyone who assaults federal immigration agents would be prosecuted.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The Kid also physically assaults Apollonia at one point.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If that language offends you — come on.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
-
If one employee offends another, they are fired on the spot.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Moral and intellectual descent is inherent in a political project that sets out to undermine liberal democracy, reject the inclusive egalitarianism of modern America, find enemies to demonize, and heroize a leader who defiles common decency.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Violates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violates. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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