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
Relevance
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of assault
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 June 2026
In the first 30 days of this assault, Israel killed at least 4,100 children—roughly eight times as many children as Russia killed in 21 months during its war of conquest in Ukraine.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Previously, Jackman had been convicted of a series of rapes in California, assaulting 20 people in Orange County in 1975 and 1976.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for assault
Noun
Deputies said the vehicle involved in the highway assault matched the description of the vehicle that was taken from the Ash Township home.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 June 2026
In the first 30 days of this assault, Israel killed at least 4,100 children—roughly eight times as many children as Russia killed in 21 months during its war of conquest in Ukraine.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Verb
For the avid gardener in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC, stepping out the front door in the summer meant being assaulted by hordes of those flying hypodermic needles, ready to bore into her skin and leave itchy welts – and sometimes serious infections like malaria or Zika – behind.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Previously, Jackman had been convicted of a series of rapes in California, assaulting 20 people in Orange County in 1975 and 1976.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for assault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assault
Noun
-
The Kerch road and rail crossing, opened by Putin in 2018, has been the target of previous Ukrainian attacks.—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
Two other individuals survived that attack, the military said.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The California Fair Political Practices Commission said 34 of the violations were for failing to report on time that Newsom and his staff directed outreach from companies and foundations that wanted to help after the Los Angeles wildfires to the California Fire Foundation.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Stanley’s statement came amidst a major lawsuit by the NAACP against Grok’s parent company, xAI, for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
New York police executing a search warrant raided an LGBTQ+ bar called the Stonewall Inn, and some of the patrons resisted as officers continued interrogating them and bar employees.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
Gordon worked with archeologists to match statues to specific sites that Toek Tik raided, mapping out looting networks.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire in Lebanon, Iran balked at attending talks planned Friday, the first since the Iranian and US presidents signed the 14-clause memorandum of understanding (MoU) earlier in the week.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
-
The prior Minnesota Anti-SLAPP law required that the court make certain pre-trial factual findings which was held to violate the right to a jury trial.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
Her 11 offensive rebounds tied the second-most in a single WNBA game.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
The government outlawed the group after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base in June 2025 to protest British military support for Israel’s military offensive against Hamas in Gaza, which killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
In 2017, Mayorga hired a new legal team and the allegation of rape was made public, prompting the Las Vegas Police to reopen the case and issue a warrant for a DNA sample from Ronaldo in January.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The 55-year-old would have been facing a life sentence had he been convicted of initial charges that included first-degree rape, simple criminal damage to property, domestic abuse battery by strangulation, simple robbery, and false imprisonment in the assault.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
In April, police used tear gas and pepper spray to repel a large group of animal welfare activists that stormed the farm in an attempt to take beagles from the facility.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
-
But to compare them with Thomas Jefferson or American soldiers storming the beaches of Normandy is absurd and more than a little insulting.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
In 1976, the Bicentennial followed the traumas of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal that had forced President Richard Nixon's resignation.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
-
An uncontained blaze in Utah’s Juab County has scorched 34 square miles, forcing the evacuation of Eureka and nearby ranches as firefighters race to shield homes amid fierce winds.—
Valerie Gonzalez,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assault. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
