assaultive

adjective

as·​sault·​ive ə-ˈsȯl-tiv How to pronounce assaultive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or tending toward assault
assaultive behavior
2
: having an intense or abrasive effect on the senses or emotions
loud and assaultive music
assaultively adverb
assaultiveness noun

Examples of assaultive in a Sentence

with viciously assaultive prose the writer takes on her critics
Recent Examples on the Web Even in the face of assaultive public opinion, there is nothing to add. Paolo Armelli, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024 How many times, in the throes of his illness, had he been taken into custody by police, accused of lewd or assaultive behavior, and locked in psych wards, only to be let out within days? Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023 The prosecutor also argued the incident was not the first for Veney involving alcohol or assaultive behavior. Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 14 July 2023 Among the offenses that don't qualify for a ticket and require an arrest are serious misdemeanors, assaultive crimes and offenses involving domestic violence. Angie Jackson, Detroit Free Press, 1 Apr. 2021 See all Example Sentences for assaultive 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assaultive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of assaultive was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near assaultive

Cite this Entry

“Assaultive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assaultive. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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