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
Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
As in previous years, almost all the assaults on responsible growth management start with the premise that local government leaders can’t be trusted to guide (or even listen to) their own communities.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
These men and women who are simply enforcing the law on the books are facing 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Earlier this week, Clauvens pleaded guilty to charges related to the other 11 assaults, which included various assault and battery and weapons charges.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security released statistics reporting assaults against ICE agents face a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks against them, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Reported assaults on agents have increased.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
On Thursday, the DHS released statistics that officials say demonstrate that ICE agents have faced an increase in vehicular assaults.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Miller was convicted of assaults on women aged 56, 68 and 22.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The Kid also physically assaults Apollonia at one point.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … SKY SCUFFLE – Passenger allegedly assaults Alaska Airlines crew members, forces emergency landing at Boise Airport.
—FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
Federal officials have said agents, including those part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are seeing increases in assaults and threats against them.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
As in previous years, almost all the assaults on responsible growth management start with the premise that local government leaders can’t be trusted to guide (or even listen to) their own communities.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
These men and women who are simply enforcing the law on the books are facing 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Earlier this week, Clauvens pleaded guilty to charges related to the other 11 assaults, which included various assault and battery and weapons charges.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security released statistics reporting assaults against ICE agents face a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks against them, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Reported assaults on agents have increased.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
On Thursday, the DHS released statistics that officials say demonstrate that ICE agents have faced an increase in vehicular assaults.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Miller was convicted of assaults on women aged 56, 68 and 22.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
The White House told ProPublica that anyone who assaults federal immigration agents would be prosecuted.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The Kid also physically assaults Apollonia at one point.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … SKY SCUFFLE – Passenger allegedly assaults Alaska Airlines crew members, forces emergency landing at Boise Airport.
—FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaults
Noun
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Delcy Rodríguez said Friday that the amnesty would apply to cases from 1999 to the present, but would exclude those prosecuted for homicide, drug trafficking, corruption and human rights violations.—
Anabella González,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Prosecutors have accused them of civil rights violations for disrupting the Cities Church service.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While Russian state media said that the ceasefire went into effect, Ukraine’s military said attacks continued throughout the period.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The horrific killing, attacks, and raids in Minneapolis rightfully overshadowed a weekend intended for buzzy discoveries and bidding wars.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The two have always had an uneasy relationship, but in the series' first episode, Constance’s son Willem (Toby Hemingway) rapes Fiona’s daughter Dahlia (Diana Silvers), and is murdered by the Nolan family because of it.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Soon after police arrested Bernardo for the Scarborough rapes, he and Homolka were also linked to the murders of three teenage girls between 1990 and 1992, according to CTV News.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
More news to know now FBI raids Atlanta election facility.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The report said Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 49 to 230 feet per day in their most prominent offensives.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The report said Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 49 to 230 feet per day in their most prominent offensives.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Because of this, Medeiros said, the question for many businesses becomes less about getting ICE to leave their property and more about what to do if ICE violates consent and other legal requirements.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
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Democratic senators from Oregon, New Mexico and Massachusetts asked Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores in a letter this month, saying that the mass generation of non-consensual sexualized images violates the stores’ distribution terms.—
Lola Murti,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That turns out to be a mistake, since a commando team soon storms his island with orders to kill him on sight.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Venita then storms out rather than talk to Salley and confront it.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Sooners have made three of their four shots from behind the arc, including one from Nijel Pack that forces a Sean Miller timeout.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
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This also forces soldiers wearing the suits to perform exaggerated, awkward movements to stay on their feet.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assaults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaults. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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