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

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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 The primary issue was false starts, as the Knights were flagged 27 times for this particular violation. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 Tennessee reported the violation, and the NCAA handed Carter a three-game suspension. — David Ubben, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 But Thursday’s routine inspection turned up 10 violations, four of which were high priority. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 However, these reports cannot cover every human rights violation that experts know about, especially in countries with low government transparency or high levels of repression. — K. Chad Clay, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for violation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for violation

Noun

Which of these adults will have their real estate crimes interrupted by those meddling kids and their puppy?

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
The plan involves the United States taking more direct control over Venezuelan reserves as crime and steep logistical challenges discourage private investors.

— Evan Halper, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of crime

Noun

Last week, rock music photographer Justin Thomas filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against the American painter Elizabeth Peyton, Sotheby’s, and David Zwirner Gallery, as first reported by Copyright Lately.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit asks for a jury trial, an injunction against ongoing and future copyright infringement and unspecified damages.

— Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of infringement

Noun

The raid underscores gangs’ push to seize strategic mountain corridors around upscale Pétion-Ville, even as armed groups now control most of Port-au-Prince and nationwide killings, rapes and kidnappings surge.

— Pierre-Richard Luxama, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
In cases of rape and murder, the punishment is life imprisonment.

— Arshad R. Zargar, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of rape

Noun

My doctoral research used years of data breach records to follow organizations over time.

— Aashis Luitel, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Argentina’s federation was separately fined $321,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches during the tournament and ordered to play its next two home games at reduced capacity.

— Asli Pelit, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of breach

Noun

He has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, the department said.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Castro is charged in Minnesota with assault and falsely reporting a crime in the January 14 shooting of 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

California’s Proposition 47 reduced certain drug convictions from felonies to misdemeanors and allowed inmates and formerly incarcerated people to petition the court for resentencing.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
On Monday, Hamby was charged with murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony, jail records show.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of felony

Noun

Three people were arrested at the game — one on charges of cocaine possession and battery and two more for criminal trespass to land — but Chicago police said none of these people were involved in the fight.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Judge Richard Leon ruled the project would not alter reservation boundaries or trespass on tribal land, saying border security and public safety outweigh any harms.

— Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of violation

noun

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