as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
with viciously assaultive prose the writer takes on her critics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
-
The recent turmoil is testing some of the foundations that powered private credit’s rapid growth, including aggressive underwriting, highly leveraged middle-market borrowers and the promise of stable capital insulated from bank-style runs.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Belt-Stubblefield did not take aggressive action and tried to walk away.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Pakistan’s state-run media later reported that militant fatalities had risen to 80.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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The president has given the regime less than two weeks to come back with proposals on curbing its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and support for proxy militant groups.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Bushey’s hostile behavior following his sister’s arrival caused Laurie and her mother to take several safety measures out of fear, such as removing knives from the home, changing the locks, and finally pursuing a restraining order against Bushey and taking steps to evict him, Pirrello said.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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As events are leaning toward David Ellison and Paramount prevailing in its $108 billion hostile-takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, almost a dozen Republican state attorneys general are insisting that the federal government heavily scrutinize Netflix‘s bid for the iconic studio.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assaultive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaultive. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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