1
as in violating
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent
was registered as a sex offender after assaulting the victim
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in attacking
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 assaulting
According to Sadriu, officers learned that Cupe was allegedly assaulting a woman in the park when a bystander intervened in an effort to stop the assault.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
The untitled film marks Majors’ first movie in four years after he was dropped from numerous projects when found guilty in 2023 of assaulting his former girlfriend.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Karaban spent the better part of the night assaulting the Capital One Arena rims, missing all five of his first threes, and eight of his first nine shots.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
He was found guilty the following year of kidnapping and assaulting a teen in Utah who had managed to get away.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
He was found guilty the following year of kidnapping and assaulting DaRonch.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The former South Carolina politician − who resigned from his role as state treasurer in 2007 after pleading guilty to a federal drug charge − was accused of assaulting a former nanny in 2015.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
He was found guilty the following year of kidnapping and assaulting Carol DaRonch.
—CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
According to a 911 call log, a caller reported that her boyfriend was assaulting her at that address.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
The untitled film marks Majors’ first movie in four years after he was dropped from numerous projects when found guilty in 2023 of assaulting his former girlfriend.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Karaban spent the better part of the night assaulting the Capital One Arena rims, missing all five of his first threes, and eight of his first nine shots.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
He was found guilty the following year of kidnapping and assaulting a teen in Utah who had managed to get away.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
He was found guilty the following year of kidnapping and assaulting DaRonch.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The former South Carolina politician − who resigned from his role as state treasurer in 2007 after pleading guilty to a federal drug charge − was accused of assaulting a former nanny in 2015.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
He was found guilty the following year of kidnapping and assaulting Carol DaRonch.
—CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
According to a 911 call log, a caller reported that her boyfriend was assaulting her at that address.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaulting
Verb
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In their filing in Sacramento Superior Court, the residents accuse city officials of violating Measure O, which mandates that interim shelters sit more than 500 feet away from bodies of water or streams.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Sculptor and illustrator Jacques Tilly, who designed the aforementioned float, has been reported to the police for disseminating hate speech and violating the Criminal Code, which prohibits the use of Nazi imagery for purposes not expressly linked to art, scholarship, teaching, or reporting.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The adjective ‘brave’ should never be used in reference to a person attacking a dead person.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Trump reacted by attacking Springsteen over his physical appearance and urging his MAGA fanbase to boycott the tour.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The execution of a former police officer convicted of murdering and raping a young girl nearly 40 years ago will remain on hold after the state Supreme Court on Monday denied the state’s request to lift the stay, according to court documents.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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People all over the globe were in disbelief that a man could perpetuate a campaign of drugging and raping his wife without her knowledge, and even more sickened that dozens of men joined him in his crimes.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There’s also talk of US forces raiding nuclear sites deep inside Iran to retrieve worrisome nuclear material, amid heightened fears that it could be used by an angry and desperate Iranian regime to manufacture nuclear weapons.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
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Noem sent Bovino and his Border Patrol agents into Los Angeles last June, and viral social-media clips of agents raiding Home Depot parking lots soon followed.—
Nick Miroff,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fungi aren’t literally storming areas like rain or hail, but storms act as the vehicle while the spores supply the threat.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
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Dweir said an argument between a resident of Suqaylabiyah and another from Qalaat al-Madiq led to scores of men from the Sunni town storming the area and attacking shops, homes and cars.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The series, which stars and is executive produced by Hamm, follows his character, a divorced and jobless hedge fund manager who turns to robbing his wealthy neighbors in an affluent suburb.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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As that was happening, prosecutors say the remaining suspects drew firearms and began robbing others in the studio.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Grass lines in 8 to 15 feet of water make a perfect location for ambushing their prey and hiding from other predatory fish like muskies.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
2 Apr. 2026
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Rajabi was therefore reduced to meeting Khamenei by ambushing him after evening prayers in his compound.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assaulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaulting. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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