Synonyms of assaults

assaults 1 of 2

noun

plural of assault

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

• violations
• rapes
• sexual assaults
• ravishments

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

• attacks
• raids
• offensives
• onslaughts
• offenses
• aggressions
• strikes
• attempts
• bombardments
• incursions
• rushes
• invasions
• blitzes
• onsets
• counterattacks
• charges
• ambushes
• blitzkriegs
• bombings
• barrages
• coups de main
• descents
• sieges
• ambuscades
• forays
• counteroffensives
• sorties
• ravages
• sallies
• breakthroughs
• counterstrikes
• air raids
• envelopments
• counterassaults
• volleys
• pillages
• sacks
• fusillades
• storms
• cannonades
• salvos
• counteraggressions
• hails
• whammies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• defenses
• guards
• shields
• oppositions
• resistances
• securities
• defensives
• protections
• shelters

assaults

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of assault

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

• rapes
• violates
• forces
• ravishes
• molests
• date rapes
• gang rapes
• deflowers
• paws
• defiles

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

• attacks
• raids
• storms
• strikes
• ambushes
• charges
• robs
• assails
• turns (on)
• descends (on or upon)
• invades
• rushes
• jumps (on)
• swarms
• besets
• sets at
• sets upon
• sets on
• rounds on
• tears into
• goes in (on)
• flies at
• pounces (on or upon)
• trashes
• pitches into
• beats up on
• bushwhacks
• goes at
• sics
• lights into
• bombs
• surprises
• mobs
• ravages
• besieges
• flanks
• waylays
• barrages
• blitzes
• sacks
• bombards
• plunders
• gangs up (on)
• nukes
• forays
• ambuscades
• cannons
• pillages
• loots
• batters
• bum-rushes
• buffets
• cannonades
• mugs
• harries
• beleaguers
• overruns
• plasters
• envelops
• presses
• bangs away (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protects
• covers
• shields
• defends
• secures
• guards

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of assaults

Noun

Another suspect in the 2023 attacks, Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis, was jailed in Hungary for over a year following the assaults, resulting in a diplomatic dispute between Rome and Budapest over her treatment in detention. — Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026

Prosecutors used the Idaho assaults to prove a pattern of abuse, and put a life sentence on the table. — Olivia Young, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Felony assaults in the park are down 15%, with only 12 compared to 14 in 2025. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026

Independent Russian media regularly report about returning veterans involved in assaults, drunken brawls and even killings. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Research published in Nurse Leader shows assaults on nursing personnel rose from just over 14,000 in 2019 to nearly 24,000 in 2023. — Jason Fass, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Twice this year, Uber was found liable for driver assaults of passengers. — Idaho Statesman, 5 Sep. 2026

The direct hit against one of the most important government buildings in Ukraine came after days of near continuous aerial assaults by Russia on the Ukrainian capital. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Vladimir Putin is currently carrying out one of the deadliest assaults on the Kyiv region since the start of the war. — Marc A. Thiessen, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 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