Synonyms for violate
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Rape — to rape
rape, pollute, force, do violence to, dishonor US, dishonour UK, hurt, injure, misuse, despoil, assault, corrupt, spoil, debauch, plunder, degrade, contaminate, sully, debase, pervert, taint, pillage, warp
2. Contravene
contravene, break, transgress, infringe, breach, disobey, offend, go against, set at naught, infract, trespass
Definitions
- v. 1
To rape.
- v. 2
To break or disregard (a rule or convention).
Drinking-and-driving violates the law.
- v. 3
To cite (a person) for a parole violation.
Forms
- Past participle
- violated
e.g. violated → raped, polluted, forced, dishonored…
Example sentences
- hurt I don't want to hurt Tom, but I will if I have to.
- injure You have to be careful so as not to injure yourself.
- pollute Travelling by bus or bike, you could pollute less.
- transgress You think you can transgress the law?
- contravene Nature feigns to contravene her own laws.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| violate | steady | |
| hurt | rising | |
| injure | falling | |
| pollute | steady | |
| transgress | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- hurt1, rape1, warp1
- 5 letters
- force1, break1, spoil1, sully2, taint1
- 6 letters
- breach1, offend2, misuse2, injure2, debase2
- 7 letters
- assault2, corrupt2, degrade2, pervert2, plunder2, profane2, pollute2, pillage2, disobey3, debauch, despoil, infract
- 8 letters
- trespass2, infringe2, dishonor3
- 9 letters
- dishonour, desecrate3
- 10 letters
- contravene3, transgress2
- 11 letters
- contaminate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (sully2 = 2 syllables).