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assault

as·sault

assault

 
 
pronunciation:
sawlt
parts of speech:
noun, transitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a violent physical or verbal attack.
His injuries from the assault in the park were very serious.The candidate made an assault on his opponent's character.
synonyms:
attack
similar words:
aggression, bastinado, battering, beating, holdup, mugging, offensive, onslaught, storm, violence
definition 2: an attack staged by armed forces, usu. resulting in close combat with the opposing forces.
They staged their assault on the bridge in the early morning hours.The assault resulted in major casualties for both sides.
synonyms:
attack, offensive, strike
similar words:
aggression, blitz, bombardment, charge, coup de main, foray, incursion, invasion, offense, onset, onslaught, raid, sally, siege, sortie, storming, thrust
definition 3: in law, an attempt or threat to hurt another person.
She was jailed for assault with a weapon.
similar words:
abuse, attack, battery, threat, violence
definition 4: rape.
He was accused of the assault on the teenager.
synonyms:
attack, rape, violation
similar words:
abuse
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part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: assaults, assaulting, assaulted
definition: to stage an assault on; attack.
The army assaulted the fort.
synonyms:
attack
similar words:
affront, assail, batter, beat up, beset, besiege, blitz, charge, descend upon, gang up on, harass, invade, jump, molest, mug, pitch into, raid, rape, ravish, rip into, rush, storm, strike, violate
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: assaultive (adj.), assaulter (n.)
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  crime, injury, war