violate

1 of 3

verb

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce violate (audio)
violated; violating
Synonyms of violate

transitive verb

1
: break, disregard
violate the law
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
4
: interrupt, disturb
… violate the peace of a spring evening.—Nancy Larter
violative
vī-ə-ˌlā-tiv How to pronounce violate (audio)
adjective
violator
vī-ə-ˌlā-tər How to pronounce violate (audio)
noun

violate

2 of 3

adjective

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-lət How to pronounce violate (audio)
archaic
: subjected to violation

violator

3 of 3

noun

vi·​o·​la·​tor ˈvīəˌlātə(r) How to pronounce violator (audio)
-ātə-
plural -s
: one that commits a violation

Synonyms of violate

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
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.
Verb
In its March 9 lawsuit, Anthropic alleged the government violated its right to free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution by retaliating against its views on AI safety. — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026 The agreement resolves a lawsuit filed in 2020 that alleged Walmart repeatedly violated the federal Controlled Substances Act by unlawfully dispensing opioid prescriptions at pharmacies across the country. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 In the lawsuit Friday over Golden State Wind, California argues the deal violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which gives California input into offshore leasing decisions. — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby hoped to play at Texas Tech despite violating NCAA rules against gambling. — Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for violate

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin violatus, past participle of violare, from viol- (as in violentus violent)

Noun

Middle English, ravisher, from Latin, violator, from violatus (past participle of violare to violate) + -or

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of violate was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing violate

Browse Nearby Words

violarite
violate
violater
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

violate

verb
vi·​o·​late
ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt
violated; violating
1
: to fail to keep or observe : break
violate the law
2
: to do harm or damage to
3
: to treat with great disrespect
violate a house of worship
4
: disturb sense 1a
don't violate their privacy
violator
-ˌlāt-ər
noun

Legal Definition

violate

transitive verb
vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce violate (audio)
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
violation
ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce violate (audio)
noun
violative
ˈvī-ə-ˌlā-tiv How to pronounce violate (audio)
adjective
violator
ˈvī-ə-ˌlā-tər How to pronounce violate (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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