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
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Sawtelle said Coogler also has been punished while awaiting trial in jail for being involved in assaults on other inmates.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026
The attacks, which have been claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), followed last month's heavy assaults on the government by the group and a Tuareg separatist group, the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA.
—ABC News, 7 May 2026
Despite the overall decrease, 2025 proved the deadliest year for antisemitic attacks since 1994, with record physical assaults and three killings on American soil.
—David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
With the drop in on-campus incidents a major factor, the ADL’s latest annual audit — released Wednesday — says there were 6,274 incidents of antisemitic assaults, harassment and vandalism overall in 2025.
—David Crary, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Aryeh Tuchman, director of the Nexus Center for Antisemitism Research and a former ADL antisemitism researcher, called rising assaults − even as overall incidents declined − a red flag, particularly with deadly attacks in 2025.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 6 May 2026
More than 200 physical assaults were recorded nationally for the first time in the organization's history.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Those releases included individuals tied to dozens of homicides, hundreds of assaults and a wide range of other violent and drug-related offenses, ICE said.
—Peter D'abrosca , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
Any person who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crewmembers can face criminal charges and civil penalties costing up to $3,658 per violation, the statement read.
—Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 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 girl reported the assaults to her elementary school teacher while Dixon was incarcerated on unrelated charges, according to court records.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Sawtelle said Coogler also has been punished while awaiting trial in jail for being involved in assaults on other inmates.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026
The attacks, which have been claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), followed last month's heavy assaults on the government by the group and a Tuareg separatist group, the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA.
—ABC News, 7 May 2026
Despite the overall decrease, 2025 proved the deadliest year for antisemitic attacks since 1994, with record physical assaults and three killings on American soil.
—David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
With the drop in on-campus incidents a major factor, the ADL’s latest annual audit — released Wednesday — says there were 6,274 incidents of antisemitic assaults, harassment and vandalism overall in 2025.
—David Crary, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Aryeh Tuchman, director of the Nexus Center for Antisemitism Research and a former ADL antisemitism researcher, called rising assaults − even as overall incidents declined − a red flag, particularly with deadly attacks in 2025.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 6 May 2026
More than 200 physical assaults were recorded nationally for the first time in the organization's history.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Those releases included individuals tied to dozens of homicides, hundreds of assaults and a wide range of other violent and drug-related offenses, ICE said.
—Peter D'abrosca , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Verb
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
Any person who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crewmembers can face criminal charges and civil penalties costing up to $3,658 per violation, the statement read.
—Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 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
-
Meanwhile, 24 eateries, including a local cafe, received citations for health code violations such as brown residue in the ice machine, a lack of quaternary ammonia test strips and improperly cooled food.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 15,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
-
Commercial and industrial customers face $500 penalties for a first offense and $1,500 for additional violations.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
At the most recent debate, hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52 on May 6, the seven candidates again clashed over housing and immigration, while Becerra and Steyer faced fierce attacks from both sides of the political spectrum, The Los Angeles Times reported.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
15 May 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
-
That figure has dwindled to around 3 percent as fewer candidates avail themselves of the money and Congress raids the fund for other things.—
Adam Lashinsky,
Washington Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Oilers won nine series in the last four years and represented the West in unsuccessful offensives against the Florida Panthers in each of the past two Junes.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
The army has retaken territory from ethnic militias, including the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which had launched powerful offensives along with pro-democracy resistance forces in northeastern Myanmar near the Chinese border and in western Myanmar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The complaint claims the practice amounts to an unlawful invasion of privacy and violates Texas consumer protection laws.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
11 May 2026
-
In April, the group of 19 camps in Texas filed a lawsuit saying the requirement to install fiber optic internet does not make their properties safer, violates the state Constitution and laws regarding property rights, and could prevent them from opening.—
STEPHEN SIMPSON The Texas Tribune,
Arkansas Online,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Blanche says on Monday that the noises correspond with the time the suspect allegedly storms the Secret Service security checkpoint on the floor above the ballroom.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 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 17 May. 2026.
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