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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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 An insurer generally has 60 days after receiving notice from DFS to pay damages or correct the circumstances giving rise to the violation. — Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 Beyond an economic and artistic violation, though, there’s a more sordid aspect to what’s happening today with AI stand-ups. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 The league said its review of Cooper’s conduct for potential violation of its personal conduct policy after a pair of domestic violence arrests in June remains ongoing and is unaffected by Cooper’s status change. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 The records also show passing inspection results in 2022, 2023 and 2025 with no specific violations. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for violation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for violation

Noun

Xuan’s attorney, Mitchell Krems, previously noted his client had never been convicted of a crime.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
The frontrunner is Marine Le Pen, who has worked for years to make her far-right party, the National Rally, more electable while campaigning on immigration, crime, and denunciation of an out-of-touch political class.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of crime

Noun

Another Supreme Court case made injunctions — the court orders that companies historically relied on to halt patent infringement — significantly harder to secure.

— Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Under a contributory infringement claim, all authors need to prove is that Meta facilitated transfers of their works.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of infringement

Noun

Instagram direct messages to a University of Miami football player that included rape imagery, violent slavery imagery, three uses of the N-word and two uses of a homophobic slur are under investigation by the Florida Bar.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
This means that the larger social dynamics created by rape—even the prospect of rape—in small, intimate communities go unconsidered.

— B. D. McClay, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of rape

Noun

Formerly, Christians were taught that greed--that is, the immoderate pursuit and love of money--was a sin.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Per the official logline, in the final season, as the survivors race to bury their sins before rescue arrives and an old flame roars back into town with plans of her own.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of sin

Noun

The students stirred uncomfortably at the clear breach of protocol.

— Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has begun notifying victims impacted by a recent data breach of driver’s license and motor vehicle data, but not everyone whose information was stolen will receive an alert.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of breach

Noun

Lula seized on these acts as meddling in the campaign, and as an assault on Brazilian sovereignty encouraged by the Bolsonaro family.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
All this was happening with a coincident and successful assault of affirmative action in higher education.

— Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

In 2020, the DOJ brought similar charges against another 19 individuals, none of which resulted in felony convictions or jail sentences, according to a Sacramento Bee analysis of the court cases.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
In January 2025, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch changed the department pursuit policy, barring cops from chasing after vehicles fleeing car stops unless a felony crime or a violent misdemeanor was committed.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of felony

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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 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of violation

noun

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