1
as in violations
the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse
attended a class teaching women self-defense against assault
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in attacks
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
was arrested for his assault of the bystander
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rapes
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent
was registered as a sex offender after assaulting the victim
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in raids
to take sudden, violent action against
was found guilty of assaulting an officer enemy forces assaulted the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assaults
Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
In August, Russia’s aerial assaults on Ukraine slowed markedly, with 4,288 projectiles raining down on Ukrainian cities, an average of 138 per day.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The charts, which spanned fiscal years 2021 to 2025, showed inmate assaults increasing from 1,353 in 2021 to 3,054 in 2025 and assaults on staff going from 537 to 716.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2025
At the same time, Russia is launching new assaults along other parts of the frontline, including around Zaporizhzhia and Sumy.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Both women alleged Garzon told them, prior or following their assaults, to not share with anyone whatever happens in their meeting.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The attack on Kyiv is the latest in a series of Russian assaults across Ukraine this week.
—Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Over the first six months of 2025, the index shows a 21% decrease in homicides over the same period of 2024, while aggravated assaults—which includes non-fatal shootings—were down 8%.
—Mark Vancleave, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
About 22% of those surveyed reported experiencing injuries, while 21% reported assaults on the job.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
Investigators later confirmed his DNA matched evidence from that case and others, including attacks in Okemos, Michigan, in 1994; Birmingham, Michigan, in 1995; and Columbus, Ohio, in 1997, as well as two assaults in Ventura in the early 1980s.
—Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
In August, Russia’s aerial assaults on Ukraine slowed markedly, with 4,288 projectiles raining down on Ukrainian cities, an average of 138 per day.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The charts, which spanned fiscal years 2021 to 2025, showed inmate assaults increasing from 1,353 in 2021 to 3,054 in 2025 and assaults on staff going from 537 to 716.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2025
At the same time, Russia is launching new assaults along other parts of the frontline, including around Zaporizhzhia and Sumy.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Both women alleged Garzon told them, prior or following their assaults, to not share with anyone whatever happens in their meeting.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The attack on Kyiv is the latest in a series of Russian assaults across Ukraine this week.
—Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Over the first six months of 2025, the index shows a 21% decrease in homicides over the same period of 2024, while aggravated assaults—which includes non-fatal shootings—were down 8%.
—Mark Vancleave, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
About 22% of those surveyed reported experiencing injuries, while 21% reported assaults on the job.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaults
Noun
-
The bills, named for the global pop star — and the frantic rush to get tickets for her shows around the country — strengthen penalties for using bots to buy tickets in bulk and give the state attorney general the ability to investigate potential violations of the law.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Like Prairie Village, Leawood focuses on education and safety before writing violations if an officer stops an e-bike or e-scooter operator.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the downward pressure on cost of cyber attacks, the sector continues to grow, as more companies treat cyber security incidents as a top priority.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
This prevents many attacks that use lookalike domain names or hacks such as DNS cache poisoning to create rogue sites masquerading as the real, trusted ones.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lanier rapes Forsythe during a job interview, which O’Brien recounts in upsetting, unwavering detail.—
Jared Sullivan,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2024
-
Donald treats Ivana with similar contempt, and then rapes her.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
10 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Microsoft raids Google’s AI ranks Mustafa Suleyman, one of the founders of Google’s DeepMind, who is now head of Microsoft AI, is raiding his old company for talent, calling them personally on the phone with the promise that life at Microsoft has more of a startup vibe than Google does.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Any member who violates the ban would need to pay a fee equal to 10% of the value of the covered investment, and get rid of any profits from that investment.—
Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
-
In times of war, it is simply forbidden to say anything that violates the general consensus—and the consensus regarding the war is sacred and immutable.—
Uriel Kon
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Marcello steps in to guide her safely down the mountain, though their connection is quickly cut short when Emily storms off to confront Gabriel and end their relationship.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
With a face as crimson as her hair, Ellen storms directly into her brother Colum’s (Séamus McLean Ross) office, demanding answers.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Sunday’s strikes involved 823 drones and missiles and killed four people, including a mother and baby.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
And a belief long voiced by many in the region of Israel’s intention to sabotage peace talks has only been fortified by Tuesday’s strikes.—
Paula Hancocks,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But upon Bennet’s arrival, things take a turn for the bizarre, when the wealthy tycoon builds himself a prison cell in the basement, in an apparent act of meditative penance that forces Blakey into an inversion of traditional power dynamics.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The death sets off a chain of events that forces Lilian to revisit her fractured family life and complicated bond with her ex-husband.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assaults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaults. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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