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
Virginie Berger, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
All three officials violated the department's confidentiality and media policy by leaking the information, while one of the officials also violated the department's social media policy by sharing the articles to an official department social media account.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Foreign agents, terrorists, violent criminals, and others seeking to violate the rights of Americans should be kept out.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Orange County Register, 29 Dec. 2024
But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law.
—David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for violate 
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Verb
This practice allegedly violates the copyrights of millions of artists, yet accountability remains murky.
—Virginie Berger, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
All three officials violated the department's confidentiality and media policy by leaking the information, while one of the officials also violated the department's social media policy by sharing the articles to an official department social media account.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Foreign agents, terrorists, violent criminals, and others seeking to violate the rights of Americans should be kept out.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Orange County Register, 29 Dec. 2024
But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law.
—David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
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 6 Jan. 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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