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
Synonyms
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
Brenda Looper, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Privacy experts told ProPublica that companies that shared information with the NSSF may have violated federal and state prohibitions against deceptive and unfair business practices.
—Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 5 Feb. 2025
Google has been accused of violating antitrust law in other countries, including those in the European Union, South Korea, Russia, India and Turkey, for allegedly abusing its market dominance.
—Zen Soo, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
Last month, Judge Selna decided that there was insufficient evidence proving MGA Entertainment infringed on the OMG Girlz’s trademark, despite a jury finding the company guilty of violating the IP rights of the OMG Girlz with the company’s 2019 L.O.L. Surprise!
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for violate 
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Verb
Someone deleting your hateful comments on their posts and/or blocking you on social media didn't violate your rights.
—Brenda Looper, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Privacy experts told ProPublica that companies that shared information with the NSSF may have violated federal and state prohibitions against deceptive and unfair business practices.
—Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 5 Feb. 2025
Google has been accused of violating antitrust law in other countries, including those in the European Union, South Korea, Russia, India and Turkey, for allegedly abusing its market dominance.
—Zen Soo, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
Last month, Judge Selna decided that there was insufficient evidence proving MGA Entertainment infringed on the OMG Girlz’s trademark, despite a jury finding the company guilty of violating the IP rights of the OMG Girlz with the company’s 2019 L.O.L. Surprise!
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for violate
Dictionary Entries Near violate
Cite this Entry
“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violate. Accessed 9 Feb. 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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