assailant
noun
as·sail·ant
ə-ˈsā-lənt 
plural assailants
: a person who attacks someone violently
an assault by an unknown assailant
She could identify the assailant and his two accomplices, and she wanted to press charges.—
Jennifer Baumgardner
Jennifer BaumgardnerDetectives speculated that she may have been punched on the chin, perhaps knocked unconscious by her assailant.—Joseph Wambaugh
Joseph WambaughExamples of assailant in a Sentence
the darkness prevented me from getting a good look at my assailant
Recent Examples on the Web
The shooting has sparked a citywide manhunt for the assailant, with police sharing surveillance photos of the two males asking for the public’s help in identifying them.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
The teens then stole a red Kia while the assailants’ female friends remained in the Dodge, prosecutors said.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
The surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed that the assailants fled on foot following the attack, according to the warrant affidavit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
An unknown assailant shoots up the Vances' house during a Shabbat meal, before killing himself with a cyanide cigarette.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for assailant
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.
Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
The teens then stole a red Kia while the assailants’ female friends remained in the Dodge, prosecutors said.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
The surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed that the assailants fled on foot following the attack, according to the warrant affidavit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
An unknown assailant shoots up the Vances' house during a Shabbat meal, before killing himself with a cyanide cigarette.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for assailant
Cite this Entry
“Assailant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assailant. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
assailant
noun
as·sail·ant
ə-ˈsā-lənt
: a person who commits criminal assault
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
