1
as in rape
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
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2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against
was found guilty of assaulting an officer enemy forces assaulted the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
Leslie Cockrell alleged in her suit that, in 1999, Combs and another man assaulted her at his summer party in the Hamptons.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Apr. 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
Lohan was arrested last month in Palm Beach County for violating probation in connection with a February arrest in Texas when he was charged with Continuous Violence Against the Family for allegedly assaulting 42-year-old Major.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
Leslie Cockrell alleged in her suit that, in 1999, Combs and another man assaulted her at his summer party in the Hamptons.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assault
Noun
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An Alabama man convicted of a 2010 rape and murder on Thursday with a three-drug injection.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Dana Martin, then an inmate at a prison in Las Cruces, N.M., was already serving two life sentences for the 2000 rape and murder of 15-year-old DeAndra Florucci.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In March, two days of U.S. attacks killed more than 50 people, Houthi officials said.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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The attack on Ras Isa Fuel Port marked a widening of the U.S. bombing campaign, which had previously targeted Houthi forces and their command centers elsewhere in Yemen.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In a series of lawsuits following the order, plaintiffs, including 22 Democratic state attorneys general and immigrant rights advocates, argued that Trump's order violates a right protected by the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment: anyone born in the United States is a citizen.—
Terry Moseley,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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In legal terms, the lawsuits are saying oil and gas companies violated consumer-protection laws and committed common-law civil violations such as negligence.—
Hannah Wiseman,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His home was raided on August 5, 2024, where FBI agents found no evidence of the drug itself but did seize electronic items and demanded Reister take a urine test.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
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Though Tut ruled for only a short time, this tomb was well concealed and, unlike most others, wasn’t raided.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The post was an apparent violation of Major League Baseball’s social media policy, which prohibits the use of electronic devices during games.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Civil rights advocates and others have described Trump’s moves as alarming violations of civil rights, including the right to due process.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The onslaught has been so extensive that the United States now has its highest average tariff rate in over a century − and more seem on the way.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
When two of the men turn and run, Tommy’s left with one other man to defend against the onslaught as the people on the rooftops fire into the street and the non-combatants cower inside.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Companies that need these elements have been forced to buy them from other firms with existing private stockpiles, which have become more valuable in recent weeks.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2025
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However, Barron's slender frame and short arms may force him to play as a nickel corner in the NFL.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Such is the case with this 15-minute fictionalized short inspired by the traumatic aftermath of a real event — when a group of Proud Boys in 2022 stormed a Drag Queen Story Hour program at the East Bay’s San Lorenzo Library and proceeded to hurl gay and transphobic slurs there.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
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Soon after Noboa took office in 2023, the country suffered back-to-back emergencies: a notorious gang leader escaped from prison; days later, a band of gunmen stormed a major TV station and took the staff hostage.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assault. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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