VIOLATION Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

violation

noun

ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən

Definition of violation

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

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rape

the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse war crimes include the violation of civilians

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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 violation Oliver worked inside one of America's largest background check companies and watched applicants get screened out for fishing license violations. — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Immigration violations are a civil matter, as a criminal court does not have jurisdiction over such issues. — Alexandra Duggan, Idaho Statesman, 21 July 2026 His violations were so numerous and egregious, a court revoked Huckabay’s ability to register and title a boat in the state, according to the FWC. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026 According to the report, there was a complaint made in November 2025 regarding Giddens and a potential ethics violation. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for violation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for violation

Noun

In the neo-noir crime thriller, Cole (Dane DeHaan) is a thief who makes a living hacking people's bank accounts from his car.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 2026
But what does that do to the right of anyone else to say he indeed was arrested and convicted of a crime?

— Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026

Definition of crime

Noun

The panel of three judges dismissed the case, writing in their opinion that the decision should not be taken to mean that Koons’s use of the sculpture did not constitute copyright infringement.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026
Pharmaceutical companies regularly sue each other over patent infringement claims.

— Reuters, NBC news, 21 July 2026

Definition of infringement

Noun

Last week, six women filed civil complaints against Marie, the former head of Elite Model Management’s Paris office, alleging rape and human trafficking at the Paris Judicial Court.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 July 2026
What remains is a far more interesting addition to the rape-revenge tradition, albeit one that may frustrate viewers expecting more conventional genre thrills from a Fantasia premiere.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026

Definition of rape

Noun

Unfortunately, another breach of FIFA rules and tradition came at halftime of the final and didn’t win many friends either.

— Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
The breach arrives just months after the museum’s triumphant unveiling of its new $82 million expansion, work on which kept the institution closed for two years.

— News Desk, Artforum, 20 July 2026

Definition of breach

Noun

Prosecutors said the elder Gray gave his son the assault-style rifle used to open fire at the school.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
City Councilmember Rowena Brown said she was punched, choked and dragged by her hair through her downtown Oakland apartment over the weekend by an acquaintance who is now charged with felony counts of assault, robbery and false imprisonment.

— Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 23 July 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Hearn has pleaded not guilty to a felony vandalism charge, which could carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

— Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Scott is charged with first-degree murder and with employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of felony

Noun

Because Hostin had no criminal history and cooperated with officers, police said he was issued a summons for trespass and released.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Andrew Truelove, 41, was charged with hate crimes burglary and menacing, as well as criminal trespass and harassment after allegedly swinging at Melvin Thursday morning.

— Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026

Definition of trespass

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violating

violation

violations

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Style

“Violation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violation. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of violation

noun

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