assault 1 of 2

Definition of assaultnext

assault

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb assault contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assault are assail, attack, bombard, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When could assail be used to replace assault?

While the synonyms assail and assault are close in meaning, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When is it sensible to use attack instead of assault?

Although the words attack and assault have much in common, attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When would bombard be a good substitute for assault?

The words bombard and assault are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When is storm a more appropriate choice than assault?

The words storm and assault can be used in similar contexts, but storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of assault
Noun
Reyes was charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants and assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction, according to a CNN report. Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026 He was charged with seven felonies and a misdemeanor, including four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Patrick Wilson, Charlotte Observer, 21 June 2026
Verb
For the avid gardener in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC, stepping out the front door in the summer meant being assaulted by hordes of those flying hypodermic needles, ready to bore into her skin and leave itchy welts – and sometimes serious infections like malaria or Zika – behind. Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 June 2026 Previously, Jackman had been convicted of a series of rapes in California, assaulting 20 people in Orange County in 1975 and 1976. Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for assault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assault
Noun
  • The Kerch road and rail crossing, opened by Putin in 2018, has been the target of previous Ukrainian attacks.
    Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
  • Two other individuals survived that attack, the military said.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • She is also accused of harassment and violation of temporary order for protection against domestic violence, both of which are misdemeanor offenses.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026
  • According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, 51-year-old Mathers of Chesterfield did not appear for an adjourned bond-violation hearing and sentencing after pleading no contest on May 11 to operating while intoxicated.
    DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • New York police executing a search warrant raided an LGBTQ+ bar called the Stonewall Inn, and some of the patrons resisted as officers continued interrogating them and bar employees.
    USA Today, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • Gordon worked with archeologists to match statues to specific sites that Toek Tik raided, mapping out looting networks.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire in Lebanon, Iran balked at attending talks planned Friday, the first since the Iranian and US presidents signed the 14-clause memorandum of understanding (MoU) earlier in the week.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • The prior Minnesota Anti-SLAPP law required that the court make certain pre-trial factual findings which was held to violate the right to a jury trial.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Tech companies have turned on the charm offensive in a bid to turn the tide.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 22 June 2026
  • At the heart of the battle will be Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and his fleet, fighting to repel the offensive led by Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) and the forces of the Triarchy.
    Francesca Pellegrini, Vanity Fair, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Sochor was convicted of the rape and strangling of 18-year-old Patricia Gifford after meeting her at a New Year's celebration in 1981.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • Per the New York Post, Jeronimo-Rojas acknowledged he was caught on surveillance footage but denied the rape and the robbery.
    Preston Mizell , James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Michael Ovitz, the co-founder of CAA, stormed out of a deposition on June 1 after being asked about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 June 2026
  • Two years ago, Delva was forced to flee his neighborhood of Solino after gangs stormed in and razed much of it to the ground.
    Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • In 1976, the Bicentennial followed the traumas of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal that had forced President Richard Nixon's resignation.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • An uncontained blaze in Utah’s Juab County has scorched 34 square miles, forcing the evacuation of Eureka and nearby ranches as firefighters race to shield homes amid fierce winds.
    Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assault. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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