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   violate

   /ˈvʌɪəleɪt/

   verb

   • 1. break or fail to comply with (a rule or formal agreement): "they violated the terms of a ceasefire" Similar contravenebreachcommit a breach ofinfringeinfractbreaktransgressoverstepnot comply withdisobeydefyfloutfly in the face ofrebel againstdisregardignorepay no heed totake no notice ofarchaic:set at naughtOpposite comply with
   • ▪ fail to respect (someone's peace, privacy, or rights): "they denied that human rights were being violated" Similar invadeintrude onencroach onimpinge ontrespass onobtrude onbreak intointerfere withdisturbdisruptupsetshatter
   • 2. treat (something sacred) with irreverence or disrespect: "he was accused of violating a tomb" Similar desecrateprofanetreat sacrilegiouslytreat with disrespectblasphemedefiledegradedebasedamagevandalizedefacedestroyinformal:trashOpposite respect
   • 3. rape or sexually assault (someone). literary Similar rapeindecently assaultsexually assaultassaultforce oneself onforcesexually abuseabusemolestinterfere withseduceinformal:pop someone's cherrybedeuphemistic:have one's (evil) way withtake advantage ofdated:ravishdeflowerdefiledishonourruintake away someone's innocence

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin violat- ‘treated violently’, from the verb violare.

   Derivatives

   • 1. violable adjective
   • 2. violative adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • V

     4

   • I

     1

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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