1
as in violating
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent
was registered as a sex offender after assaulting the victim
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in attacking
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 assaulting
While federal law dictates up to 20 years in prison or assaulting pilots or flight attendants, there is no nationwide standard for public transit operators.
—
Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
John Gotti's grandson, Carmine Gotti Agnello, was arrested Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a woman, Nassau County Police said.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 4 June 2026
At the time, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed its officers charged LaBeouf with two counts of simple battery for allegedly assaulting two men near a bar in the French Quarter.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Federal officials have filed charges against the man accused of assaulting a flight attendant and trying to escape a Frontier Airlines plane before passengers pinned him down while the plane was en route to Chicago earlier this week.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The initial indictment came weeks before Calhoun was due to be released from state prison, where he was returned in 2023 to finish serving a four-year term for assaulting a police officer, trying to strangle a police dog, burglary and other charges.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Peter Schwartz, who was convicted by a jury of assaulting police officers with pepper spray and throwing a metal chair at law enforcement.
—Tom Dreisbach, NPR, 26 May 2026
The perpetrators allegedly transported victims to isolated islands near New Providence before assaulting them.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
The man allegedly grabbed the woman from behind and held a knife to her side before assaulting her on the sidewalk, police said, ABC News reports.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
John Gotti's grandson, Carmine Gotti Agnello, was arrested Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a woman, Nassau County Police said.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 4 June 2026
At the time, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed its officers charged LaBeouf with two counts of simple battery for allegedly assaulting two men near a bar in the French Quarter.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Federal officials have filed charges against the man accused of assaulting a flight attendant and trying to escape a Frontier Airlines plane before passengers pinned him down while the plane was en route to Chicago earlier this week.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The initial indictment came weeks before Calhoun was due to be released from state prison, where he was returned in 2023 to finish serving a four-year term for assaulting a police officer, trying to strangle a police dog, burglary and other charges.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Peter Schwartz, who was convicted by a jury of assaulting police officers with pepper spray and throwing a metal chair at law enforcement.
—Tom Dreisbach, NPR, 26 May 2026
The perpetrators allegedly transported victims to isolated islands near New Providence before assaulting them.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
The man allegedly grabbed the woman from behind and held a knife to her side before assaulting her on the sidewalk, police said, ABC News reports.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaulting
Verb
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Both Israel and Hezbollah — which was not party to the ceasefire — accuse each other daily of violating the truce.—
Khaled Wassef,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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Section 301 allows the USTR to investigate countries potentially violating other nations’ trade agreements or practices that hurt US business.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Rather than attacking all rapidly growing cells, as chemotherapy does, the drug targets a key cancer-driving pathway known as KRAS, which is involved in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
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Akindahunsi is accused of attacking several women the night of May 28.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Nuñez then began raping her while Jones stuffed rocks in her mouth to try to stop her from screaming, detectives said in the report.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
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He was also charged with raping a woman unaffiliated with UCLA near Culver City in October.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Even rural birds manage to find some human items, most likely by raiding farm bins or garages.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
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At 13-years-old, Blue Ivy Carter is already raiding one of the best closets in the game.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
Verb
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For all the prior cinematic depictions of storming bunkers and camaraderie under fire, Pressure offers us the quiet heroism of rational restraint in the figure of James Stagg, who weathered his inner storms and bore the courage to be disliked.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
29 May 2026
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This revolutionary fervor culminated in both Fidel and Raúl, with roughly 140 rebel revolutionaries in tow, storming Cuba’s second-largest military installation, the Moncada Barracks, in July 1953.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Verb
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In the late 1990s, officers from a gang unit in the LAPD’s Rampart Division were accused of robbing people and planting evidence, among other crimes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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This talent is noticed by Josh Gad (yes, played by Josh Gad) who puts Doorman into his bank-robbing heist movie franchise.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Arizona’s offense set the tone for the night by absolutely ambushing Ray, needing just six pitches to plate four runs.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
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Atletico’s path to the semifinals has been taking first-leg leads — ambushing Tottenham at home then winning at Barcelona — before riding out severe pressure in the return game.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assaulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaulting. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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