ASSAULTS Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

assaults 1 of 2

noun

plural of assault

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

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as in attacks

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence was arrested for his assault of the bystander

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assaults

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of assault

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

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as in raids

to take sudden, violent action against was found guilty of assaulting an officer enemy forces assaulted the city

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of assaults

Noun

According to the sheriff's office, the assaults happened along the Highway 92 corridor in Cobb, Douglas, and Paulding counties. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 The disturbing incident comes amidst a sharp increase in both felony and misdemeanor assaults in the subway system. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026 This development comes more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as mass armored assaults have become increasingly scarce on the modern battlefield dominated by drone warfare. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 The timing of the assaults prompted allegations that the extremist group had coordinated with Laftagareen’s forces. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 On June 6, police from multiple jurisdictions responded to Downtown Days in Lee’s Summit in response to reports of fights, assaults, property damage and large groups of teens who refused to disperse. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 Ukraine launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Russia overnight on Saturday, firing on targets deep inside the country and killing at least six people, according to Russian authorities. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 16 Aug. 2026 The shortage is costing Ukraine most acutely, where cities some nights appear defenseless to Moscow’s rocket assaults. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 Threats Are Outpacing Change In The Merchant Marine Complex and wide-ranging assaults on cargo vessels are consigned virtually every peacetime cargo-carrier’s operational assumptions into a messy obsolescence. — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 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

Four of seven members agreed with the District’s staff recommendation that the school had addressed the violations and should keep its charter.

— Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Major was charged with one count of conspiracy and six counts of Lacey Act violations, and Eborn was charged with one count of conspiracy and seven counts of Lacey Act violations.

— Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of violations

Noun

One part of this offensive doctrine is the persistent but unpredictable attacks on tankers leaving the Gulf – so as to keep oil prices high.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia this year, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones targeting military industries and energy facilities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacks

Verb

In that film’s story, Insiang (Hilda Koronel) metes out revenge against Dado (Ruel Vernal), her hateful mother’s lover, who rapes her after rejecting his advances.

— Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
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

Definition of rapes

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

Definition of raids

Noun

However, Iran analysts are highly skeptical that Tehran will prove capable of launching any such large-scale ground offensives any time soon.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Israel’s ongoing offensives have become a wedge issue for Jewish and non-Jewish Americans, leading to protests and raising antisemitism fears and questions about America’s close ties to Israel.

— David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of offensives

Verb

The reforms would also tie an executive’s overall pay to safety metrics and impose shareholder penalties of up to $10 million per violation if a company violates safety rules.

— Linh Tat, Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit argued in part that the plan violates the First Amendment, which courts have historically held protects the right to receive information.

— BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of violates

Verb

Mars storms the Official Streaming chart with five titles, while one of his most successful collaborations becomes a bestseller again on multiple rosters.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Although significant, that event was far less powerful than the Carrington Event — or the even rarer storms the new study suggests may be possible.

— Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 17 July 2026