1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violation
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
1
as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against
was found guilty of assaulting an officer enemy forces assaulted the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assault
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
Investigators recovered hundreds of videos from Spencer’s phone after the FBI flagged a Telegram group chat whose members shared footage of assaults on unconscious victims.
—
Chadd Cripe. Produced With Ai Assistance,
Idaho Statesman,
2 July 2026
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
28 June 2026
Witnesses told police that the victim had called and reported that O’Neal had assaulted her, the witnesses told police.
—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for assault
Noun
He was convicted of first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon with priors in 2024 and was sentenced to life in prison.
—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
Investigators recovered hundreds of videos from Spencer’s phone after the FBI flagged a Telegram group chat whose members shared footage of assaults on unconscious victims.
—
Chadd Cripe. Produced With Ai Assistance,
Idaho Statesman,
2 July 2026
Verb
The unrest began in mid-March but has intensified, leaving at least three dead as vigilantes armed with spears, clubs, and whips assaulted migrants and destroyed their homes.
—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
28 June 2026
Witnesses told police that the victim had called and reported that O’Neal had assaulted her, the witnesses told police.
—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for assault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assault
Noun
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The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion.
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Twice in recent days, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Iran following drone attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Noun
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Lawyers in the gas station lawsuit assert that technology is enabling antitrust violations.
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Beijing has and been accused of serious human violations, including large-scale arbitrary detention of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang.
Verb
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Kerr’s home in Florida was raided by the FBI on the same day.
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And try not to raid your retirement savings for a household expense.
Verb
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Judge Sullivan concluded in his June 25 decision to order Blanche to release more information or explain himself that Blanche had likely violated the transparency law.
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Guests were reportedly required to sign nondisclosure agreements before receiving any event details (although the NDAs were said not to have included any penalties for violating the terms).
Noun
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s position on Ukraine remains unchanged, insisting that Russian troops are continuing their front-line offensive.
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The move reflects the success of elite drone formations such as Rubicon, which helped blunt Ukraine's offensive into Russia's Kursk region by using drones to disrupt frontline logistics.
Noun
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The alleged rape was reported by The Athletic in May, though the identity of the player was not revealed at the time.
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Mendes under investigation New Zealand police are investigating allegations of rape against Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes, who has started all three of the team’s matches in the World Cup thus far.
Verb
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Trump stormed out of a June 7 interview with current moderator Kristen Welker in Wisconsin.
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The Cavaliers won the 2015-2016 championship in a remarkable series in which Cleveland stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to win in seven games, a first in finals history.
Verb
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Chisholm did not appear to go around and immediately erupted over the lack of an appeal, forcing Boone and first base coach Dan Fiorito to intervene.
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The competing corridors have left shippers confused, forcing vessels to navigate threats from sea mines, aerial drones and IRGC patrol boats.
Cite this Entry
“Assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assault. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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