assailant
noun
as·sail·ant
ə-ˈsā-lənt 
plural assailants
: a person who attacks someone violently
an assault by an unknown assailant
She could identify the assailant and his two accomplices, and she wanted to press charges.—
Jennifer Baumgardner
Jennifer BaumgardnerDetectives speculated that she may have been punched on the chin, perhaps knocked unconscious by her assailant.—Joseph Wambaugh
Joseph WambaughExamples of assailant in a Sentence
the darkness prevented me from getting a good look at my assailant
Recent Examples on the Web
Murdaugh family announces $100,000 reward for information Alex Murdaugh and his son Buster announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of assailants involved in the murders of Maggie and Paul.
—Marlene Lenthang, ABC News, 14 May 2026
Last month, three assailants opened fire at police outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, sparking a gunfight that left one attacker dead.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The Kuwaiti national news agency said after clashes with local security services, four of the assailants were arrested and two escaped.
—CBS News, 12 May 2026
The verdict against general manager David Hammond and the bar includes $31 million in compensatory damages; $50 million in exemplary damages against the bar; and $50 million against the assailant, according to court documents.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for assailant
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Marlene Lenthang, ABC News, 14 May 2026
Last month, three assailants opened fire at police outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, sparking a gunfight that left one attacker dead.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The Kuwaiti national news agency said after clashes with local security services, four of the assailants were arrested and two escaped.
—CBS News, 12 May 2026
The verdict against general manager David Hammond and the bar includes $31 million in compensatory damages; $50 million in exemplary damages against the bar; and $50 million against the assailant, according to court documents.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for assailant
Cite this Entry
“Assailant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assailant. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
assailant
noun
as·sail·ant
ə-ˈsā-lənt
: a person who commits criminal assault
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