as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
with viciously assaultive prose the writer takes on her critics
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Recent Examples of assaultive
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
The prosecutor also argued the incident was not the first for Veney involving alcohol or assaultive behavior.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 14 July 2023
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
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
See All Example Sentences for assaultive
Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
The prosecutor also argued the incident was not the first for Veney involving alcohol or assaultive behavior.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 14 July 2023
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
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
See All Example Sentences for assaultive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaultive
Adjective
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But even in Alberta, a province that has favored development, the legacy policies are still likely not aggressive enough to meet the moment.—
Mark Le Dain,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Bring the water to a gentle simmer (a boil is far too aggressive for poaching eggs).—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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The Islamic State militant group (ISIS) operates both east and west of Iran and has also stepped up operations within the Islamic Republic itself, having claimed the deadliest operation in the nation's post-revolutionary history in January 2024.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
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Bondi also shared that over 1,000 Iranian nationals have entered the country illegally in recent years and said law enforcement agencies are actively investigating them for possible ties to foreign militant groups.—
Elaine Mallon,
The Washington Examiner,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Syria has turned from a fertile ground to a hostile one for Iran and its assets, after the Assad regime was toppled in December.—
Lina Khatib,
Time,
19 June 2025
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By contrast, the U.S. had appeared openly skeptical and was often even seen as hostile.—
Ozan Ozerk,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assaultive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaultive. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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