assault

¹as·sault

noun \ə-ˈsȯlt\

Definition of ASSAULT

1

a : a violent physical or verbal attack b : a military attack usually involving direct combat with enemy forces c : a concerted effort (as to reach a goal or defeat an adversary)

2

a : a threat or attempt to inflict offensive physical contact or bodily harm on a person (as by lifting a fist in a threatening manner) that puts the person in immediate danger of or in apprehension of such harm or contact — compare battery 1b b : rape 2

Examples of ASSAULT

1. She was injured in a brutal assault.
2. <the body of the murdered woman also showed signs of assault>

Origin of ASSAULT

Middle English assaut, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *assaltus, from assalire

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ASSAULT

Synonyms: rape, ravishment, sexual assault, violation

Related Words: acquaintance rape, date rape, statutory rape; gang rape; indecent assault, molestation; defilement, deflowering

Near Antonyms: defense, defensive, guard, shield; opposition, resistance; protection, security, shelter

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with ASSAULT

asphalt, basalt, Chennault, cobalt, cross vault, default, desalt, exalt, fan vault, foot fault, gestalt, no-fault, pole vault, rock salt, Schwarzwald, stringhalt