violated

American  

[vahy-uh-ley-tid] / ˈvaɪ əˌleɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. (of a law, principle, promise, agreement, instruction, etc.) acted against; not kept or honored; broken or transgressed.

   The often violated rule of thumb is that families should not spend more than 30 percent of their budget on housing.

   After this betrayal by local authorities, it will take some effort to restore the violated trust of the community.

2. (of something precious, sacred, beautiful, etc.) treated with disrespect or contempt; marred or desecrated.

   British art of the World War I era is full of images of a torn and violated landscape.

   The discovery of the violated tombs has caused pain and distress among the people of the area.

3. sexually molested, especially raped.

   History shows repeatedly the difficulty for a violated woman to be heard and believed.

4. rudely disturbed; thoughtlessly interfered with.

   They complain about their violated privacy, but then post way more online than anyone wants to know about them.

5. (of a border, home, property, restricted space, etc.) broken through or into by force or without right.

   Law enforcement was able to get to the violated border point before the smuggler escaped.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of violate.

Other Word Forms

• quasi-violated adjective
• unviolated adjective

Etymology

Origin of violated

First recorded in 1535–45; violate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; violate ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

Several Louisiana parishes have sued oil companies in state court, alleging that decades of drilling, dredging and refining damaged the coastal zone and violated state environmental rules.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Judge Claustro violated the law for his personal financial benefit,” First Assistant U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

The Wyoming Supreme Court found Tuesday that both these laws violated a 2012 state constitutional amendment.

From Salon

Thailand's army said Tuesday its Cambodian counterpart claimed fresh cross-border fire was an accident, after Bangkok said its neighbour's forces violated a 10-day-old truce.

From Barron's

Noriega also argued his forcible military abduction violated international law and the Panamanian government’s sovereignty, thereby depriving courts of jurisdiction.

From The Wall Street Journal