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violate

3 syllables

Quick answer

As a verb, violate means break or disregard (a rule or convention).

Meanings of violate

9 meanings

To break or disregard (a rule or convention).
“Drinking-and-driving violates the law.”
“Accessing unauthorized files violates security protocol.”
euphemisticTo rape.
prison slangTo cite (a person) for a parole violation.
Fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
“This sentence violates the rules of syntax”
Similar: go against, break
Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
“offend all laws of humanity”
“violate the basic laws or human civilization”
“break a law”
Similar: transgress, offend, infract, go against, breach, break
Destroy
“Don't violate my garden”
“violate my privacy”
Violate the sacred character of a place or language
“desecrate a cemetery”
“violate the sanctity of the church”
“profane the name of God”
Similar: desecrate, profane, outrage
Force (someone) to have sex against their will
“The woman was raped on her way home at night”
Similar: rape, ravish, assault, dishonor, dishonour, outrage
Destroy and strip of its possession
“The soldiers raped the beautiful country”
Similar: rape, spoil, despoil, plunder