rapist

noun

rap·​ist ˈrā-pist How to pronounce rapist (audio)
plural rapists
Synonyms of rapistnext
: a person who rapes someone : a person who commits rape
a convicted rapist

Examples of rapist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More news The recent release of a serial rapist is garnering outrage in the San Gabriel Valley community where the man, who is an heir to a cosmetics fortune, is reportedly residing. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 But to think this way is to capitulate to the rapist’s logic. — Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 There’s irony, Gilbert said, in realizing that his father has played rapists, drug dealers, and cartel members without audiences mistaking their beliefs for his own. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026 Her rapists free to walk the grounds of Cornell under a system that chose the university over the student. — Jeannine Chiang, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rapist

Word History

Etymology

rape entry 2 + -ist entry 1

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rapist was in 1867

Rhymes for rapist

See All Rhymes for rapist

Browse Nearby Words

rapini
rapist
raploch
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rapist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapist. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

rapist

noun
rap·​ist ˈrā-pəst How to pronounce rapist (audio)
: an individual who commits rape

More from Merriam-Webster on rapist

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rapist

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All