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
Jeanna Smialek, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2023
Within days of his assault on White, Seneca allegedly attempted to kidnap a different man and allegedly kidnapped another, the Justice Department said in a previous statement.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2023
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 29 July 2025
Meanwhile, Representative LaMonica McIver was charged with assaulting federal agents during the same protest.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault
Noun
That is why the Fed is taking a cautious stance and trying to avoid pulling back prematurely from its assault on inflation.
—Jeanna Smialek, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2023
Within days of his assault on White, Seneca allegedly attempted to kidnap a different man and allegedly kidnapped another, the Justice Department said in a previous statement.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2023
Verb
Officers arrived on scene to find two people injured after being allegedly assaulted by several juvenile females.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 29 July 2025
Meanwhile, Representative LaMonica McIver was charged with assaulting federal agents during the same protest.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assault
Noun
-
The restaurant was a favorite hangout of the Gilbert Goons and the site of seven parking lot attacks, according to beating videos, interviews and police records.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
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His campaign has said Trump's online attacks often result in new campaign donors.—
Jolene Almendarez,
The Enquirer,
23 July 2025
Noun
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The Seattle resident asserted that being blocked was a violation of her First Amendment right.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 July 2025
-
The flimsy pretense for the raid was that some NABU officers had been involved in traffic accidents and violations.—
Steve Cortes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Under the proposal, violating the permit restrictions would carry a $150 fine.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
23 July 2025
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Then, in November 2023, a mistrial was declared in a federal trial over whether Hankison violated the civil rights of Taylor, her boyfriend and neighbors after the jury could not come to a decision.—
Josh Wood,
The Courier-Journal,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
In Oakland, a 35-year-old man was charged with possessing and manufacturing assault weapons, after police raided his home during an online fireworks investigation.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
-
But the agency discovered the scheme and found undocumented workers at the company’s site when officials raided it in 2018.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The new onslaught comes after a bit of a break from last week’s sweltering spate of weather, and Mayor Adams issued a new warning.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
28 July 2025
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That Israel’s onslaught on Gaza, not much more than an hour down the coastal highways, was still raging, the body count among Palestinians rising by the dozens nearly every day, seemed not to dampen the mood, either.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
Noun
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In April 2024, Lateral officer Myron Howard, who was with the department for one year, was charged with rape, criminal confinement, official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
30 July 2025
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Thomas Partey, the footballer accused of rape, will feature on the Premier League’s official trading cards when they are released next month — after Arsenal rubber-stamped his inclusion.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Verb
-
In 2022, then-Land Commissioner George P. Bush forced Paxton into a runoff in his bid for a third term for attorney general.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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So far nothing is forcing the city to even help arrest immigrants, even if Immigration and Customs Enforcement asks. Ohio State Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) has introduced House Bill 26, which directs state and local authorities to assist ICE.—
Sharon Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
30 July 2025
Verb
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In that way, camp couldn’t be more different than a year ago, before the Broncos stormed to a 10-7 mark and a playoff appearance and nearly doubled the general range of wins that bookmakers pegged them for.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
22 July 2025
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The relative said female family members who survived the massacre recalled how militants had stormed the family’s multi-story home early in the morning, prompting the residents to fight back in defense.—
Sarah Dewberry,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assault. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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