WordWeb Online

1. Fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
   "This sentence violates the rules of syntax";
   - go against, break
    
2. Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
   "violate the basic laws or human civilization";
   - transgress, offend, infract, go against, breach, break
    
3. Destroy
   "Don't violate my garden"; "violate my privacy"
    
4. Disregard the sacred character of a place or language
   "violate the sanctity of the church";
   - desecrate, profane, outrage, defile
    
5. Force (someone) to have sex against their will
   "The woman was violated on her way home at night";
   - rape, ravish [archaic], assault, dishonor [US, archaic], dishonour [Brit, Cdn, archaic], outrage
    
6. Destroy and strip of its possession
   "The soldiers violated the beautiful country";
   - rape, spoil, despoil, plunder

Derived forms: violated, violates, violating

Type of: assail, assault, attack, destroy, disrespect, disturb, ruin, set on, touch

Encyclopedia: Violate