assailant

noun

as·​sail·​ant ə-ˈsā-lənt How to pronounce assailant (audio)
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
Detectives speculated that she may have been punched on the chin, perhaps knocked unconscious by her assailant.Joseph Wambaugh

Examples of assailant in a Sentence

the darkness prevented me from getting a good look at my assailant
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Ziva, though, heard gunshot, immediately grabbed for her sidearm and started frantically aiming for an assailant who wasn’t there. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025 Some critics online have argued that instead of chasing down his daughter’s assailant, Spencer should have called 911 and waited for authorities to handle it. Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025 The wife of King Charles III fought off a groper as a teenager by taking off her shoe and bashing the assailant in the groin. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2025 The assailant reportedly fired seven or more bullets before fleeing the scene. Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for assailant

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of assailant was in 1523

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Assailant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assailant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Legal Definition

assailant

noun
as·​sail·​ant ə-ˈsā-lənt How to pronounce assailant (audio)
: a person who commits criminal assault

More from Merriam-Webster on assailant

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