rape 1 of 2

1
as in violation
the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse an international law defining rape as a war crime

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2
as in kidnaping
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal the legend of the rape of the Sabine women by the ancient Romans was frequently depicted in classical art

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rape

2 of 2

verb

as in to violate
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent the defendant accused of raping the victim

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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 rape
Noun
An Alabama man convicted of a 2010 rape and murder on Thursday with a three-drug injection. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Dana Martin, then an inmate at a prison in Las Cruces, N.M., was already serving two life sentences for the 2000 rape and murder of 15-year-old DeAndra Florucci. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Massacre, enslavement, rape, kidnapping of women and children, combined with starvation and disease, more than decimated native nations. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 23 Apr. 2025 Those assertions by Weinstein include those with multiple accusers who had never met each other giving very similar graphic accounts, going back to the 1970s, of rapes and assaults in hotel rooms, in homes and during industry events. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025 Weinstein has been transported to New York City's Bellevue Hospital several times since he was sentenced to 23 years in prison following his conviction on rape charges in February 2020. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025 Ashley Judd responds to Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction reversal Actress Ashley Judd spoke at a press conference after Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals. Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Soulja Boy has been ordered to pay a hefty sum to a Jane Doe victim who accused the rapper of rape and assault. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 10 Apr. 2025 The data had been filed in a high-profile federal lawsuit involving a 15-year-old girl who said Myers Park High School administrators failed to investigate her on-campus rape. Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
An Imperial Officer abusing his untouchable status to rape an undocumented migrant, while his troops are rounding up other undocumented citizens. James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025 Sharpe, 56, is accused in a civil lawsuit filed Sunday in Clark County, Nev., of raping the woman in October 2024 and in January. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025 The plaintiff sued Sharpe, with whom she had been engaged in a nearly two-year relationship, in Nevada, accusing him of raping her on two different occasions. Liam Quinn, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025 Sharpe, 56, is accused of raping the woman in October 2024 and again in January, court documents said. CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025 Once her husband and the men accused of raping her went to trial, Gisèle Pelicot took the extraordinary step of waiving her right to anonymity, so that the names and faces of the accused would also be public. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 21 Apr. 2025 In January, during a prison break, at least 150 female prisoners were raped before the majority were subsequently burned alive. Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025 Wulff told jurors Weinstein had masturbated in front of her at work and later raped her at his apartment. Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2025 Then, in 2013, during her senior year, she was raped at a frat party. Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
  • The post was an apparent violation of Major League Baseball’s social media policy, which prohibits the use of electronic devices during games.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Civil rights advocates and others have described Trump’s moves as alarming violations of civil rights, including the right to due process.
    Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In a series of lawsuits following the order, plaintiffs, including 22 Democratic state attorneys general and immigrant rights advocates, argued that Trump's order violates a right protected by the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment: anyone born in the United States is a citizen.
    Terry Moseley, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The sheriff’s office said it’s launched an internal investigation, but so far has not found any signs that the veteran deputy violated any policies.
    Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.
    Jacky Wong, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
  • Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.
    Reuters, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
  • An abduction must have occurred, the child must be at risk of serious injury or death, and there has to be descriptive information about the child, the suspect or the suspect's vehicle.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, in response to the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas in Southern Israel on Oct. 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 people.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Five years after the pandemic forced children into remote instruction, two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders still cannot read at grade level.
    K. Dara Hill, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2025
  • However, Barron's slender frame and short arms may force him to play as a nickel corner in the NFL.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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