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
Molly Watts posted a heartfelt tribute to the late Wire actor, who died by suicide at 46 on Friday, on Instagram on Monday, explaining how Ransone fended off an assailant outside their apartment building.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Dec. 2025
After Green jumped up and grabbed the weapon, Carter and the initial assailant kept walking toward him, leading Green to walk backward to the door with his arms up, unaware that San Jose police officers had just arrived at the scene after hearing about a man with a gun in the restaurant.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
At least nine people were killed early Sunday as a group of assailants opened fire with pistols and an assault rifle at a South African tavern, local police officials said.
—Liezl Thom, ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
Police also found evidence that the assailant had worn rubber gloves.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assailant
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Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Dec. 2025
After Green jumped up and grabbed the weapon, Carter and the initial assailant kept walking toward him, leading Green to walk backward to the door with his arms up, unaware that San Jose police officers had just arrived at the scene after hearing about a man with a gun in the restaurant.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
At least nine people were killed early Sunday as a group of assailants opened fire with pistols and an assault rifle at a South African tavern, local police officials said.
—Liezl Thom, ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
Police also found evidence that the assailant had worn rubber gloves.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assailant
Cite this Entry
“Assailant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assailant. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
assailant
noun
as·sail·ant
ə-ˈsā-lənt
: a person who commits criminal assault
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