violate Hear it!

violate Definition

vio·late (vī′ə lāt′)

transitive verb -·lat′ed, -·lat′·ing

  1. to break (a law, rule, promise, etc.); fail to keep or observe; infringe on
  2. to commit a sexual assault on; esp., to rape (a woman)
  3. to desecrate or profane (something sacred)
  4. to break in upon; interrupt thoughtlessly; disturb to violate someone's privacy
  5. to offend, insult, or outrage to violate one's sense of decency

Etymology: ME violaten < L violatus, pp. of violare, to use force or violence, akin to vis, force

violate Related Forms

vi′o·la′·tive adjective vi′o·la′·tor noun

violate Synonyms

violate

v.

  1. To transgress

    outrage, disrupt, infringe, break, tamper with; see also meddle 1.

  2. To rape

    dishonor, defile, ravish, molest, debauch, attack.

  3. To desecrate

    profane, defile, despoil, lay waste.

violate Usage Examples

Object

  • law: They want to stop over the line, violate the law.
  • precept: This violates every precept of English law as well as natural justice.
  • norm: Such inquiries may violate the norms of western culture.
  • dignity: It covers any unwanted conduct which violates a person's dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
  • trademark: To the best of my knowledge, the use of this name does not violate trademarks or other statutes.

Subject

  • force: A law of nature cannot be violated by natural forces.
  • country: A recent publication had stated that more than 90 Security Council resolutions were being violated by countries other than Iraq.

Modifying Another Word

  • flagrantly: Many private and state-owned mines have been documented as flagrantly violating China's rather lax safety regulations.
  • systematically: But the individual, both legal and natural, has systematically violated those limits.
  • grossly: It will be a law without effect because it will grossly violate a fundamental human right.
  • persistently: But this rule is persistently violated in the Deerslayer tale.
  • otherwise: If the corporation fails to pay state taxes or otherwise violates state tax law.
  • allegedly: Kerry was also accused of misconduct, allegedly violating debate rules by removing a pen from his jacket.

Used with why or when

when: The basic liberal principle of dignity of the individual is violated when individuals are treated as national resources.

Preposition: in

  • practice: As we shall see below, all of these assurances have been violated in the actual practice and development of the industry.
  • manner: They demanded that the bill be amended while ensuring that press freedom in Pakistan is not violated in any manner.

Preposition: with

impunity: It is very important to expose the fact that women workers ' rights are often violated with total impunity.

Preposition: by

  • country: According to what I have read more than 91 UN resolutions have ben violated by countries belonging to the UN.
  • force: A law of nature cannot be violated by natural forces.