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
The assailants in each of the killings left the scenes before officers arrived, and police have not announced arrests in the homicides.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026
The shooting carried out late Tuesday by assailants in an informal settlement of shacks in Johannesburg left 12 people dead and at least 15 wounded, according to authorities.
—Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
The assailant pinned her to the bench without saying a word.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
The assailant still had the gun in his jacket, according to court records, and was 16 years old -- the same age as Rio.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for assailant
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Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026
The shooting carried out late Tuesday by assailants in an informal settlement of shacks in Johannesburg left 12 people dead and at least 15 wounded, according to authorities.
—Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
The assailant pinned her to the bench without saying a word.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
The assailant still had the gun in his jacket, according to court records, and was 16 years old -- the same age as Rio.
—ABC News, 12 June 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 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
assailant
noun
as·sail·ant
ə-ˈsā-lənt
: a person who commits criminal assault
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