violation

noun

ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce violation (audio)
Definition of violationnext
1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code in colonial times blasphemy was considered a serious civil violation that merited harsh punishment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in infringement
a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation a military action that must be regarded as a violation of the treaty

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rape
the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse war crimes include the violation of civilians

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 violation Additionally, eight eateries received citations for health food violations including brown and pink residue, several dead flies on the floor and grease build up was found on filters above the cook line. — Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The remaining prison time would serve as a potential penalty for any violations during a five-year period of probation. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026 Ten of the violations had been uncorrected from a prior inspection. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 The violations occurred between 2018, when the GDPR took effect, and 2020, according to Security Affairs. — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for violation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violation
  1. crime
  2. infringement
  3. rape
  4. sin
  5. breach
  6. assault
  7. felony
  8. trespass
Noun
  • In a world where true-crime shows of both the fictional and nonfictional variety run rampant on our screens, that’s probably not a bad corporate strategy.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The strip club’s manager, who gave his name as Diego, told The News Thursday that he was not convinced the slaying stemmed from a simple crime of opportunity because the gunman had waited for the victim inside the club.
    — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of crime
Noun
  • But that free-wheeling period of sampling came to an end as copyright infringement litigation against artist Biz Markie led to new rules around it, creating both a logistical and financial barrier to its use.
    — Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The measure allows local governments or the state to fine people $500 for their first violation of the ban, $1,000 for their second infringement and $2,000 for subsequent offenses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of infringement
Noun
  • To know that a torture as violent as rape is about to happen ‘upstairs’ and not do ANYTHING ABOUT IT, is sick, cowardly and cold.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Pugh is not the only Hollywood name speaking out about the Cornell rape allegations.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of rape
Noun
  • While some newly prominent groups (such as those who later became known as Quakers) emphasized love, fellowship and justice, some members of other sects (like the Presbyterians) created new fears, new sins, new tests and new punishments.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • While Ferns prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu was in the sin-bin for head contact that forced off Marlie Packer, England bulldozed New Zealand's seven-women scrum for Breach to score her 58th try.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • After a weekend of alarming headlines about AI mishaps, public sector breaches, and agents gaining unauthorized access to outside systems, tech and AI CEOs are descending on Washington yet again this week.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The Hugging Face incident was a high-profile breach that inflamed the safety concerns about AI, which were followed by similar actions involving OpenAI’s models including breaching an Australian health department website.
    — Kelvin Chan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of breach
Noun
  • Another suspect in the 2023 attacks, Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis, was jailed in Hungary for over a year following the assaults, resulting in a diplomatic dispute between Rome and Budapest over her treatment in detention.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Cotton also rejected an argument by Brown’s lawyers that jurors were biased because Brown’s felony conviction for his 2009 domestic violence assault on his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, was mentioned.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • Prosecutors said Washington had five previous felony convictions, including drug and weapons charges, and was not allowed to possess a gun.
    — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • He was issued felony citations on suspicion of burglary, evading police, driving more than 100 mph, hit-and-run, obstruction and resisting, reckless driving and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of felony
Noun
  • Anthoni Jose Navas Arias, 36, and Taylor Javier Parra Alviares, 39, were arrested on June 28 and charged with criminal trespass for delving into the sewers beneath McDonald Ave.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Most of the time, those kicked out receive a criminal trespass warning.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of trespass

Browse Nearby Words

violating
violation
violations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Violation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violation. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tittle

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All