assaultive

adjective

as·​sault·​ive ə-ˈsȯl-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or tending toward assault

assaultive behavior

2

: having an intense or abrasive effect on the senses or emotions

loud and assaultive music

assaultively adverb

assaultiveness noun

Synonyms of assaultive

• aggressive
• militant
• hostile

Examples of assaultive in a Sentence

with viciously assaultive prose the writer takes on her critics

Recent Examples on the Web

As Molloy gradually succeeds in puncturing Lestat’s aloof, arrogant outer shell, his sound correspondingly shifts from assaultive punk to more contemplative ballads. —Alison Herman, Variety, 7 June 2026

Unlawful activity including blocking roads, intentionally creating hazards and assaultive behavior will not be tolerated. —Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 2 Mar. 2026

Chief Judge James Boasberg ruled in two more surge cases involving Paul Nguyen and Nathalie Rose Jones, each accused of assaultive or threatening conduct during summer protests. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2025

Corigliano’s symphony is assaultive in style and confrontational in intent. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1