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 Wambaugh
Examples of assailant in a Sentence
the darkness prevented me from getting a good look at my assailant
Recent Examples on the Web
Lawrence’s pistol misfired, allowing the 67-year-old president to lunge at his assailant with his cane.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2024
Long story short: in the lead-up to the 1994 Olympics, Harding’s husband paid assailants to injure Kerrigan, her main competition for a spot at the Games.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 11 July 2024
When asked who, the victim identified her assailant as Webb, police wrote.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2024
Additionally, the actress posted a photo on her Instagram story of a toilet paper holder shaped like a bear — which had been brutally decapitated by an unknown assailant.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for assailant 
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2024
Long story short: in the lead-up to the 1994 Olympics, Harding’s husband paid assailants to injure Kerrigan, her main competition for a spot at the Games.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 11 July 2024
When asked who, the victim identified her assailant as Webb, police wrote.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2024
Additionally, the actress posted a photo on her Instagram story of a toilet paper holder shaped like a bear — which had been brutally decapitated by an unknown assailant.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for assailant
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assailant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near assailant
Cite this Entry
“Assailant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assailant. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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assailant
noun
as·sail·ant
ə-ˈsā-lənt
: a person who commits criminal assault
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