1
as in to break
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 to desecrate
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of violate
Election officials, including some Republicans, have said handing over the information would violate state and federal privacy laws.
—
CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Even after being exonerated, plaintiffs in these cases must prove that their civil rights were violated, and judges in some cases have dismissed plaintiffs’ lawsuits for lack of evidence.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs).
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violate
CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Even after being exonerated, plaintiffs in these cases must prove that their civil rights were violated, and judges in some cases have dismissed plaintiffs’ lawsuits for lack of evidence.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs).
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for violate
Verb
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Some Native American tribes refer to the April full moon as the breaking ice moon, the frog moon, the sucker moon and the budding moon of plants and shrubs.—
Hali Smith
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
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How to break the car rental rage cycle Don't get mad.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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More synagogues in Canada in the past 28 months have been desecrated, burned, shot at, or threatened with bombings than in any other country.—
Jesse Brown,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
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And a coke-snorting, heirloom-desecrating, funeral-crashing adversary at that.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors argue that Duckett was a monster in disguise who abused the badge and brutally raped and killed Teresa before dumping her body in a lake.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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According to court documents, on July 31, 1976 Hitchcock raped his step-niece Cynthia Driggers in her bedroom in Orange County.—
Jim Turner,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Passage has long been free and required no special permission, as formally guaranteed by the United Nations' 1982 Convention of the Law of the Sea, which means Iran is breaching international maritime law.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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For example, earlier this month, the group claimed to have breached Verifone, an electronics payments provider.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Later, a fire at Hall’s grandmother’s house would destroy most of his magic act.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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This time around, in that first wave of strikes on February 28, American cruise missiles targeted and destroyed a building that ended up being a girls’ school—killing more than 168 young children who had just started their day of classes.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The sole occupant of the home was assaulted and tied up before the suspect stole several items from the home, including a vehicle, then used that vehicle to flee the scene, according to LeLacheur.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Department of Homeland Security said Saturday that two people were arrested for assaulting federal law enforcement, Reuters reported.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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
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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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Among the false claims Energy Transfer alleged Greenpeace had spread was that the energy company defiled Native American cultural boundaries.—
Mark Curriden,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
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Militia members had ransacked and defiled the house.—
Yousra Elbagir,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/violate. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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