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

• aggressive
• agonistic
• argumentative
• bellicose
• belligerent
• brawly
• chippy
• combative
• confrontational
• contentious
• discordant
• disputatious
• feisty
• gladiatorial
• militant
• pugnacious
• quarrelsome
• scrappy
• truculent
• warlike

Examples of assaultive in a Sentence

with viciously assaultive prose the writer takes on her critics

Recent Examples on the Web

The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025

The effect is assaultive but clever, jolting listeners’ reflexes and then toying with their attention. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025

There were no observed overt assaultive acts or movements displayed by [the man] on the video. —Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 18 Feb. 2025

Even in the face of assaultive public opinion, there is nothing to add. —Paolo Armelli, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1