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
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 June 2026
During the more than two-year span when the alleged crimes took place, Feigenbaum said that the only person who knew the full extent of what happened was Campbell, with several of the victims only finding out about the assaults after the defendant was arrested.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
The agency also recently started reviewing videos of driver assaults to learn lessons, aiming to mitigate future conflict.
—Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
According to the Department of Transportation, MARTA's rate of personal security events , including assaults, robberies and rapes, for employees and riders is nearly twice the national average.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Kyiv’s strategy of long-range drone assaults are denting Russia’s economic engine, leading to the risk of fuel shortages.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
The Pios’ culture assaults the senses the moment players step onto campus.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
The attack comes as the NYPD investigates a troubling string of chilling assaults against older New Yorkers.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 June 2026
During the more than two-year span when the alleged crimes took place, Feigenbaum said that the only person who knew the full extent of what happened was Campbell, with several of the victims only finding out about the assaults after the defendant was arrested.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
The agency also recently started reviewing videos of driver assaults to learn lessons, aiming to mitigate future conflict.
—Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
According to the Department of Transportation, MARTA's rate of personal security events , including assaults, robberies and rapes, for employees and riders is nearly twice the national average.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Kyiv’s strategy of long-range drone assaults are denting Russia’s economic engine, leading to the risk of fuel shortages.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
Verb
Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
—Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
The Pios’ culture assaults the senses the moment players step onto campus.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
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
-
Here are the inspection scores and violations for restaurants within the city limits of Plano for May 31st - June 6th, 2026.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
-
The 2010 and 2014 World Cups were troubled by cost overruns and delays in the construction of stadiums and other infrastructure and the threat of labor unrest while global outrage over human rights violations and discrimination against women and LGBTQ people hung over the last two tournaments.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
And, in any case, many legal experts say the boat attacks amount to extrajudicial killings in violation of international law.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
Sam Abu Haikal is the 13th child to be killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank so far this year, according to the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, which has documented the killing of 236 children in the region by Israeli forces since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Through these photos, Dominique Pelicot is not ‘just’ casting an incestuous gaze on me, as was said during the investigation and the Mazan rapes trial.—
TIME,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
-
And when her brother-in-law, Stanley (Marlon Brando), rapes her, her descent into madness was made all the more vivid and believable by Leigh's precise depiction of vulnerability and instability.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
-
In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
By targeting logistics hubs and resource stockpiles, Ukraine is attacking the systems that sustain Russian offensives.—
Aidan Stretch,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
The twin offensives are targeting Hamas and Hezbollah respectively, though critics argue that the operations are motivated at least in part by domestic politics — Israel is due to hold elections by October — and are amplifying troubling humanitarian situations in Gaza and Lebanon.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The question facing the justices is whether that requirement for advance permission violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
9 June 2026
-
The Cook County Chief Judge's office is in charge of the program, but no one from their office spoke at the meeting; and no one from the Cook County Sheriff's office, which executes arrest warrants when someone violates terms of their monitoring, attended the meeting.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Gary ultimately storms off, but Duncan appreciates the insult, suggesting that Silicon Valley's venture capitalists love sociopaths.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
-
The plot is based around a routine jury site visit that turns deadly when a mercenary kill team led by Hewitt (Adkins) storms the location in search of a secret ledger detailing citywide corruption.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Russia appeared to be flexing its military muscle in a show of force with its latest aerial onslaughts on Ukraine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
-
Wardley, 31, had never lost in 21 bouts before Saturday, and somehow withstood numerous onslaughts from Dubois (23-3) without ever touching the canvas in a remarkable display of courage.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assaults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaults. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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