
Violate
Legal Severity
Using 'violate' in a legal context implies serious consequences, more than just making a mistake.
The company violated environmental laws and faced substantial fines.
Intentional Action
'Violate' often suggests that the rule or agreement was broken on purpose, not accidentally.
They knowingly violated the no-smoking policy.
Authority Clash
To 'violate' typically means to oppose an authority setting or upholding the rule, law, or agreement.
Activists violated the curfew imposed by the government.