1
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
was arrested for his assault of the bystander
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violation
the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse
attended a class teaching women self-defense against assault
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against
was found guilty of assaulting an officer enemy forces assaulted the city
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assault
Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2025
He was charged with criminal trespassing, assault, failure to stop at the command of law enforcement and three counts of violating a court order, per his booking record viewed by PEOPLE.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
The act requires the detention, without bond, of non citizens charged with or convicted of crimes such as theft, assaulting a police officer or drunk driving.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault
Noun
Voice cast regulars Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro), Akari Kitō (Nezuko), Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu) and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Inosuke) return as the Demon Slayer Corps embarks on a climactic assault against the demon king Muzan Kibutsuji.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2025
He was charged with criminal trespassing, assault, failure to stop at the command of law enforcement and three counts of violating a court order, per his booking record viewed by PEOPLE.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Parties involved in the argument were leaving the indoor amusement park when Reed assaulted an employee, unprovoked, while making his way outside.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
The act requires the detention, without bond, of non citizens charged with or convicted of crimes such as theft, assaulting a police officer or drunk driving.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assault
Noun
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And now Google warns that Chrome is under attack, issuing an emergency update and a recommendation to upgrade all desktop browsers immediately.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Ukrainian defense forces took down the 230-foot (70 meters) antenna dish to prevent Russian forces from using it to guide attacks on its territory.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The violation is the eleventh recorded since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, according to Defense Ministry figures provided to ABC News.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
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From spoiled chicken to dead cockroaches, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City area restaurants last week.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Just days ago, Russian drones violated Polish airspace, drawing a reaction from NATO.—
Oleksandra Matviichuk,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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That means public institutions that fire workers for comments in their personal capacity may be violating their constitutional rights, experts told IndyStar.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The charges come after the FBI in June 2022 raided at least three churches associated with the House of Prayer Christian Churches in Georgia and Texas, established just miles from Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Fort Hood.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Caracas on Saturday accused the US of raiding a Venezuelan fishing boat while in Venezuelan waters, underscoring the rising tensions in the region.—
Claire Cameron,
semafor.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mad Men would be named Best Drama for a third straight year and Temple Grandin commenced what turned out to be a seemingly endless onslaught at every applicable awards show, as the TV-movie tied an Emmy record with five major wins.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
13 Sep. 2025
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Poland was not alone in defending its citizens from the Russian onslaught meant for Ukraine.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The man, who has been identified by media as Christian Brueckner, had been serving a seven-year sentence that stemmed from his 2019 conviction for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal.—
Peter Wilkinson,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
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As of 2025, Tate is under multiple investigations for human trafficking, rape and forming an organized crime group.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Kuomintang, or KMT, also known as the Nationalist Party of China, is the party formerly led by Chiang Kai-shek that ruled the entirety of the Republic of China before Mao Zedong’s communist military forced it to flee to Taiwan.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
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The show also featured a number of first-time nominees and first-time winners like Tramell Tillman, Jeff Hiller, Hannah Einbinder, and Owen Cooper, all of whom were been forced to amend their moment in the spotlight to adhere to the joke.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That argument ends when Steven is involved in a car crash moments after Taylor storms out of the car during the fight, but the effects of it linger throughout the season as the pair find their way back to one another.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
18 Sep. 2025
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During the October 7, 2023 attack, Hamas and several other militant groups stormed the Nova Music Festival and nearby communities in southern Israel, killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assault. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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