vi·o·late
ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt 
violated; violating
2
: to do harm to the person or especially the chastity of
specifically
: rape sense 1
3
: to fail to show proper respect for : profane
violate a shrine
Examples of violate in a Sentence
Verb
He was arrested for violating his parole.
The company violated its customers' privacy.
She was attacked and violated by an unknown intruder.
Recent Examples on the Web
Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 Dec. 2025
The group refuses to disarm and rejects any international force operating within Gaza to enforce demilitarization, arguing that such measures would favor Israel and violate its right to armed resistance.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2025
In a case that Fischer is involved in, one defendant is out on bail, but another remains in custody, even though both were found to have their rights violated.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Frank Walls, the last Florida inmate executed, introduced credible evidence that the Florida Department of Corrections was violating execution protocols, Dunham said.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violate
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Verb
Beatty reportedly warned that this would violate the law.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 Dec. 2025
The group refuses to disarm and rejects any international force operating within Gaza to enforce demilitarization, arguing that such measures would favor Israel and violate its right to armed resistance.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2025
In a case that Fischer is involved in, one defendant is out on bail, but another remains in custody, even though both were found to have their rights violated.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Frank Walls, the last Florida inmate executed, introduced credible evidence that the Florida Department of Corrections was violating execution protocols, Dunham said.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violate
Cite this Entry
“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violate. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
violate
transitive verb
vi·o·late
ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt
violated; violating
: to go against (as a prohibition or principle) : fail to observe or respect
violate a law
civil rights were violated
violate due process
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