as in attackers
one who violently sets upon another
the darkness prevented me from getting a good look at my assailant
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Recent Examples of assailants
During the attack, the assailants beat the son's head against the pavement.
—
Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
At least one of the assailants also held a gun to the head of another person in the store.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
There was criticism that the first police responders last week were armed only with Glock pistols, which did not have the lethal range of the assailants’ shotguns and rifles.
—CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
There was criticism that the first police responders last week were armed only with Glock pistols, which did not have the lethal range of the assailants' shotguns and rifles.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
The assailants continued their shooting spree outside the tavern, fatally shooting six more people, including a passing driver, Kekana said.
—Liezl Thom, ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
In interviews given following his release from prison, Maher has doubled down — and elaborated on — his original story that he was attacked by two assailants the night the fire broke out.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
The episode does end, though, with an attack on Bunny’s motorcade from unknown assailants, possibly working for the Colombians … or for Frank.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2025
The assailants remain at large.
—Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
At least one of the assailants also held a gun to the head of another person in the store.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
There was criticism that the first police responders last week were armed only with Glock pistols, which did not have the lethal range of the assailants’ shotguns and rifles.
—CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
There was criticism that the first police responders last week were armed only with Glock pistols, which did not have the lethal range of the assailants' shotguns and rifles.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
The assailants continued their shooting spree outside the tavern, fatally shooting six more people, including a passing driver, Kekana said.
—Liezl Thom, ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
In interviews given following his release from prison, Maher has doubled down — and elaborated on — his original story that he was attacked by two assailants the night the fire broke out.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
The episode does end, though, with an attack on Bunny’s motorcade from unknown assailants, possibly working for the Colombians … or for Frank.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2025
The assailants remain at large.
—Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assailants
attackers
Noun
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That split-second decision is exactly what attackers are counting on.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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The 23-year-old is one of the Premier League’s most enthralling, threatening attackers.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assailants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assailants. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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