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 kidnapping
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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Recent Examples of rape
Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Yet, the show also didn't shy away from tough, sometimes controversial subject matter, including rape, addiction, and child loss.
—Amy Wilkinson, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Thompson said the victim in all nine counts charged Tuesday was the same victim whose rape allegations the Sheriff’s Department had investigated.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Hall pleaded guilty to the September 2000 rape and murder of Lynn Henneman, 38, a United Airlines flight attendant from New York who had an overnight layover in Boise.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Brunel killed himself in jail while awaiting trial on a rape charge in France.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Promising Young Woman, her directorial debut, got off to an electric start before eventually collapsing under the weight of its own attempts to delve into rage at a world that normalizes and trivializes rape.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2026
Damian Donaldson, 38, was charged with 15 felonies, including rape, burglary and strangulation.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Brunel killed himself in jail while awaiting trial on a rape charge in France.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Partway through the ride, the complaint alleged, the driver stopped the car, entered the back seat and raped her.
—Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Investigators said the woman was assaulted and raped inside the home.
—Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
In August that year, Singh was sentenced to 20 years in prison – two consecutive 10-year terms – for raping two of his followers in a case dating back to 1999.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The driver asked her harassing questions on the ride before stopping the car and raping her, Dean alleged in the lawsuit.
—Miguel Torres, Oklahoman, 6 Feb. 2026
Dean alleged that her driver raped her in November 2023 while giving her a late-night ride from a bar in Tempe, Arizona.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
In the lawsuit, Jaylynn Dean alleged that she was raped by her Uber driver in November 2023 while returning to her hotel.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026
Prosecutors said Parham, 33, bashed the teen’s head against a railing and wall before raping and sodomizing her at knifepoint for nearly 10 minutes during the broad daylight attack.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
On his phone, customs agents discovered messages encouraging extreme violence, rape, Nazism and self-harm.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Yet, the show also didn't shy away from tough, sometimes controversial subject matter, including rape, addiction, and child loss.
—Amy Wilkinson, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Thompson said the victim in all nine counts charged Tuesday was the same victim whose rape allegations the Sheriff’s Department had investigated.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Hall pleaded guilty to the September 2000 rape and murder of Lynn Henneman, 38, a United Airlines flight attendant from New York who had an overnight layover in Boise.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Brunel killed himself in jail while awaiting trial on a rape charge in France.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Promising Young Woman, her directorial debut, got off to an electric start before eventually collapsing under the weight of its own attempts to delve into rage at a world that normalizes and trivializes rape.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2026
Damian Donaldson, 38, was charged with 15 felonies, including rape, burglary and strangulation.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Brunel killed himself in jail while awaiting trial on a rape charge in France.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
She was raped at sixteen and afterward began using marijuana, alcohol, crack, and eventually heroin.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Partway through the ride, the complaint alleged, the driver stopped the car, entered the back seat and raped her.
—Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Investigators said the woman was assaulted and raped inside the home.
—Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
In August that year, Singh was sentenced to 20 years in prison – two consecutive 10-year terms – for raping two of his followers in a case dating back to 1999.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The driver asked her harassing questions on the ride before stopping the car and raping her, Dean alleged in the lawsuit.
—Miguel Torres, Oklahoman, 6 Feb. 2026
Dean alleged that her driver raped her in November 2023 while giving her a late-night ride from a bar in Tempe, Arizona.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
In the lawsuit, Jaylynn Dean alleged that she was raped by her Uber driver in November 2023 while returning to her hotel.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026
Prosecutors said Parham, 33, bashed the teen’s head against a railing and wall before raping and sodomizing her at knifepoint for nearly 10 minutes during the broad daylight attack.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rape
Noun
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The Kremlin said its aircraft reacted to a violation of a no-fly zone Russia has established in the area near Crimea.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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The issue, Council Member Jimmy Hallyburton said, is that the city doesn’t have any definitions of violations that the organizers may have committed.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And one of those things is what the suspect in the kidnapping looks like.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
13 Feb. 2026
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More than a week after Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing from her Arizona home in a possible kidnapping, law enforcement brought a man in for questioning before releasing him.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If the director and board both agree the investigation showed police policy was violated, the Cincinnati city manager will make a final decision regarding punishment, if warranted.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Feb. 2026
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Cross later filed a federal lawsuit against Nanos, claiming the sheriff violated his First Amendment rights.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Both Beijing and Hong Kong’s government have repeatedly rejected international criticism of Lai’s prosecution and dismissed accusations that his jailing was politically motivated or an assault on press freedom.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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Another 43,000 arrestees are listed as having assault charges or convictions.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the days following her abduction, the NBC anchor and her siblings have issued various emotional pleas for her return, offering to pay after unverified ransom notes were sent to several media organizations.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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Rocha also referred to the abduction of a group of Mexican tourists from Mazatlan last week.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Beijing’s national security law has transformed Hong Kong, with authorities jailing dozens of dissidents; forcing civil society groups and outspoken media outlets to disband; and neutering the city’s once-raucous political scene.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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The defense forced three turnovers, Jason Myers kicked a Super Bowl-record five field goals, and running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards to earn most valuable player as the Seahawks finished the season with 10 consecutive victories.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rape. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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