1
as in rape
the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse
attended a class teaching women self-defense against assault
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
was arrested for his assault of the bystander
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against
was found guilty of assaulting an officer enemy forces assaulted the city
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assault
Jeanna Smialek, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2023
Within days of his assault on White, Seneca allegedly attempted to kidnap a different man and allegedly kidnapped another, the Justice Department said in a previous statement.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2023
Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Jane Doe 1 worked for the Robinsons from January 2023 to February 2024 and was assaulted at least seven times by Mr. Robinson while working weekend shifts cleaning his home in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles, the suit said.
—Orlando Mayorquín, New York Times, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault
Noun
That is why the Fed is taking a cautious stance and trying to avoid pulling back prematurely from its assault on inflation.
—Jeanna Smialek, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2023
Within days of his assault on White, Seneca allegedly attempted to kidnap a different man and allegedly kidnapped another, the Justice Department said in a previous statement.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2023
Verb
Less than a year later in June 2021, the actor allegedly assaulted her with a cinderblock.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Jane Doe 1 worked for the Robinsons from January 2023 to February 2024 and was assaulted at least seven times by Mr. Robinson while working weekend shifts cleaning his home in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles, the suit said.
—Orlando Mayorquín, New York Times, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assault
Noun
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While Emily is awake but unable to move, Charity takes it upon herself to give her sister pleasure in a horrifying act of incestuous rape.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
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Weinstein currently remains incarcerated for his 2022 conviction of rape in California, for which he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2023.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Whitmer wages charm offensive against Trump as other Dems attack As much as Trump enjoys skewering his rivals, the president has lauded Whitmer on multiple occasions since returning to power.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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The next year, several of them banded together to launch their own attack on the Ottoman empire.—
Margaret MacMillan,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Immigrant rights advocates argued the administration violated a court order by flying four Venezuelans from Guantanamo to El Salvador.—
Nate Raymond,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Under these laws, city officials who violate them do not face consequences.—
Jennifer J. Lee,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Authorities outfitted two of the cubs with tracking collars after the bears started wandering into the town of Jackson to raid garbage cans, compost bins and bird feeders for food.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 May 2025
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Massachusetts Avenue eatery Millie’s was also reportedly raided Tuesday morning, with officers wielding a search warrant signed by an ICE agent — not a judge.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
8 May 2025
Noun
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The firm sued, calling the order a violation of the Constitution's First Amendment protections against government abridgment of speech and Fifth Amendment guarantee of due process - a requirement for the government to use a fair legal process.—
Mike Scarcella and David Thomas,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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Under South Korean law, anyone who receives a fine exceeding 1 million won ($683) for election law violations is barred from seeking office for five years.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
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How can organizations handle this onslaught of events?—
Johanna Herrmann,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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In early April, Trump imposed a 20% levy on goods from the EU as part of his tariff onslaught against global trading partners.—
Lorne Cook,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Verb
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As a mother of three children with autoimmune issues, Chevrier said she is forced to shop at specialty stores or make everything from scratch.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
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She would be forced to learn to enjoy the feeling of harmless transgression, as Heiss did.—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
4 May 2025
Verb
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The Bucks held a 118-111 lead with 40 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Pacers stormed back.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Musk stormed Washington by taking a battery ram to the federal government and becoming the administration's agenda-setter.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assault. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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