as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
with viciously assaultive prose the writer takes on her critics
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assaultive
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
Addi describes Konni as the leader of the gang, but Guðmundsson’s screenplay, so accurate at catching the assaultive language that is wielded like a defensive weapon even between close friends, puts Addi at its center: golden and good-looking, with something of a young Ryan O’Neal about him.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 24 Feb. 2022
Among the offenses that don't qualify for a ticket and require an arrest are serious misdemeanors, assaultive crimes and offenses involving domestic violence.
—Angie Jackson, Detroit Free Press, 1 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for assaultive
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
Addi describes Konni as the leader of the gang, but Guðmundsson’s screenplay, so accurate at catching the assaultive language that is wielded like a defensive weapon even between close friends, puts Addi at its center: golden and good-looking, with something of a young Ryan O’Neal about him.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 24 Feb. 2022
Among the offenses that don't qualify for a ticket and require an arrest are serious misdemeanors, assaultive crimes and offenses involving domestic violence.
—Angie Jackson, Detroit Free Press, 1 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for assaultive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaultive
Adjective
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Cynics may not believe the aggressive talk from the company.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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And the Buckeyes are working through some kinks in an offense that turns from conservative to aggressive in random segments of the game.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And as increasingly militant voices in our culture have joined the ranks, the environment has become even more intolerant.—
Amy Stephens,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
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In the story, Raina is a young Bulgarian woman who must choose between her militant fiancé, Sergius, and the kind, war-weary soldier Bluntschli, who has sought out refuge in her bedroom.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Students from the kingdom are increasingly turning away from US universities in particular, put off by a mix of hostile immigration policies, concerns over gun violence, and the kingdom’s own push to grow its domestic education sector.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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The move to social media and algorithmic media was really a move toward a style of political communication that is somewhat hostile to the liberal project and the deliberative, open-minded, thoughtful, on-the-one-hand-on-the-other-hand mode of discourse that Obama is good at.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assaultive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaultive. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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