rape

27 synonyms for rape, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The crime of forcing sexual intercourse or another sexual act on someone without their consent.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

abuse force assault

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

misuse outrage scotch violate grape spoil

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sexual assault sexual violence sexual abuse constuprate defile defoul dishonour oppress pollute ravage ravish r-word turn out viole vitiate despoil dishonor plunder

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The crime of forcing sexual intercourse or another sexual act on someone without their consent.

“The trial ended in a conviction for rape.”

sexual assault sexual violence sexual abuse abuse constuprate defile defoul dishonour force misuse oppress outrage pollute ravage ravish r-word scotch turn out violate viole vitiate grape

2. verb

To force sexual intercourse or another sexual act on someone without their consent.

“He was found guilty of having raped his victim.”

assault despoil dishonour spoil outrage ravish dishonor plunder violate

Etymology

Came from Middle English rapen, rappen (“to abduct; ravish; seduce; rape; seize; snatch; carry off; transport”), probably from the Latin verb rapiō, possibly by way of or influenced by the Anglo-Norman noun rap, rape (compare also ravish). Compare also Swedish rappa (“to snatch, seize, carry off”), Low German rapen (“t...

Full origin of rape →

Frequently asked questions

What does consent mean in this context?

Consent is a clear, freely given, informed agreement to a specific act, and it can be withdrawn at any time. Its absence is what defines the crime. A person who is asleep, unconscious, heavily intoxicated, threatened, or below the legal age cannot give valid consent, regardless of whether they physically resisted.

Is rape a serious crime?

Yes. Nearly every legal system treats it as one of the gravest offences, comparable to other major violent crimes, and it can carry lengthy imprisonment. It is prosecuted by the state, not merely as a private dispute, and it causes lasting physical and psychological harm to those affected.

People also searched

force abuse assault spoil violate scotch grape outrage misuse plunder viole defoul

Nearby words

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