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
The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim's vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety.
—
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for assaultive
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for assaultive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaultive
Adjective
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That, in turn, catalyzed the most aggressive Fed rate-hiking cycle ever and a bear market.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
1 June 2026
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Carolina’s penalty kill is extremely aggressive all over the ice.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Attacks in the region by the Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel group allied with the militant organization Islamic State, and a coalition of ethnic militias have also hindered the response.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
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Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has also touted the militant group’s drone capabilities, calling them an effective weapon against Israeli forces operating near and inside southern Lebanon.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Weiss and Tom Cibrowski were openly hostile from the start.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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The Space Force budget has grown significantly in recent years, and one of its mandates is countering spying and potentially hostile acts by Russian and Chinese spacecraft in these orbits.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assaultive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaultive. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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