verb
violate
To sexually assault someone.
The survivor describes how the attacker violated her.
Etymology
The Latin verb concerns injury, profanation, or outrage. The sexual sense applies that serious infringement specifically to bodily and sexual autonomy.
More examples
- The court heard that he had violated the victim.
- The novel addresses the trauma of being violated.
- She rejected language that blamed a person who was violated.
Forms
violate · violates · violated · violating
Similar words
- assault
- Broader than sexual violence alone.
- rape
- Names a specific severe form of sexual assault.