as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
with viciously assaultive prose the writer takes on her critics
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assaultive
The effect is assaultive but clever, jolting listeners’ reflexes and then toying with their attention.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
There were no observed overt assaultive acts or movements displayed by [the man] on the video.
—Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 18 Feb. 2025
Even in the face of assaultive public opinion, there is nothing to add.
—Paolo Armelli, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024
How many times, in the throes of his illness, had he been taken into custody by police, accused of lewd or assaultive behavior, and locked in psych wards, only to be let out within days?
—Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for assaultive
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
There were no observed overt assaultive acts or movements displayed by [the man] on the video.
—Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 18 Feb. 2025
Even in the face of assaultive public opinion, there is nothing to add.
—Paolo Armelli, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024
How many times, in the throes of his illness, had he been taken into custody by police, accused of lewd or assaultive behavior, and locked in psych wards, only to be let out within days?
—Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for assaultive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaultive
Adjective
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Some of the city's narrow streets fell victim to the aggressive snow totals, leaving residents with little wiggle room to get around it.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The agency’s aggressive tactics this past year – especially when agents make their presence known in public areas in or near an employer, such as a parking lot – have had a chilling effect on businesses in areas where ICE has been operating.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Chief Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti said 17 law enforcement personnel and 31 civilians were killed in the militant attacks.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
1 Feb. 2026
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The militant raids began early Saturday at locations across Balochistan and left 18 civilians, including five women and three children, and 15 security personnel dead, authorities said.—
Abdul Sattar,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The program put on by the Star Tribune held a four-hour session for local journalists, which included hostile environment awareness and first aid training designed to help students make informed decisions about safety while reporting in volatile situations.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Three former employees who worked under Carol Johnson, Austin’s first Civil Rights Officer, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday alleging racial discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment within the city’s Office of Civil Rights.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assaultive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaultive. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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