Meaning & use
transgress
To break a law, rule, or moral code, or to go beyond an accepted limit of behavior.
See it in a sentence
The novel's hero transgresses social norms by marrying outside his own class.
Employees who transgress the company's ethics policy face immediate dismissal.
A note on using this word
Transgress is formal and often used for moral or religious rules rather than everyday minor rule-breaking.
Words with a similar meaning
violateoverstep
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “transgress”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.