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
Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
Investigators subsequently tracked down and arrested Nathan on a charge of violating an injunction barring contact with the child and her mother.
—David J. Neal and, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
Government officials and local civil society leaders didn't immediately comment, though Congo's Communications Ministry said the rebels had violated ceasefire agreements and attacked Congolese troops working to avoid urban warfare and violence in Bukavu.
—Justin Kabumba, arkansasonline.com, 16 Feb. 2025
In 2015, after illegally annexing Crimea and sparking the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Moscow signed a ceasefire agreement only to then repeatedly violate it and then launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine seven years later.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for violate 
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Verb
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey was among those saying the group had not violated any laws.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
Investigators subsequently tracked down and arrested Nathan on a charge of violating an injunction barring contact with the child and her mother.
—David J. Neal and, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
Government officials and local civil society leaders didn't immediately comment, though Congo's Communications Ministry said the rebels had violated ceasefire agreements and attacked Congolese troops working to avoid urban warfare and violence in Bukavu.
—Justin Kabumba, arkansasonline.com, 16 Feb. 2025
In 2015, after illegally annexing Crimea and sparking the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Moscow signed a ceasefire agreement only to then repeatedly violate it and then launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine seven years later.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 16 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 22 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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