assault

[uh-sawlt]

noun

1. a sudden, violent attack; onslaught.

   an assault on tradition.

   Synonyms: aggression, invasion, charge, onset

2. Law.,  an unlawful physical attack upon another; an attempt or offer to do violence to another, with or without battery, as by holding a stone or club in a threatening manner.

3. Military.,  the stage of close combat in an attack.

4. rape.

verb (used with object)

1. to make an assault upon; attack; assail.

assault

/ əˈsɔːlt /

noun

1. a violent attack, either physical or verbal

2. law an intentional or reckless act that causes another person to expect to be subjected to immediate and unlawful violence Compare battery assault and battery

3. 1. the culmination of a military attack, in which fighting takes place at close quarters

   2. ( as modifier )

      assault troops

4. rape or attempted rape

verb

1. to make an assault upon

2. to rape or attempt to rape

Other Word Forms

• assaultive adjective
• assaulter noun
• assaultable adjective
• counterassault verb (used with object)
• nonassault noun
• unassaultable adjective
• unassaulted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assault¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English asaut, from Old French, from Medieval Latin assaltus “attacked,” past participle of assalīre “to attack, jump on,” replacing Latin assilīre, both ultimately from Latin as- as- + salīre “to jump, leap”

Word History and Origins

Origin of assault¹

C13: from Old French asaut, from Vulgar Latin assaltus (unattested), from assalīre (unattested) to leap upon; see _assail

Synonym Study

See attack.

Example Sentences

“I think what we’re seeing is an uptick in the willingness of criminals within the community to assault officers head-on,” he said at the Aug. 26 meeting.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the examples of Monguia’s misconduct reviewed by the panel included a November 2022 preliminary hearing of a man accused of assaulting a security guard.

From Los Angeles Times

That encounter was broken up by a woman who intervened, but Kebatu then sexually assaulted her by touching her leg.

From BBC

Actor John Alford has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage girls.

From BBC

Since the October 7 attacks, the Democratic Party establishment has largely stood by Israel as it carried out a brutal assault on Gaza.

From Salon

Related Words

• aggression 
• charge 
• incursion 
• invasion 
• offensive 
• onslaught 
• rape 
• strike 
• violation