assault

Pluralassaults

Formsassaults, assaulting, assaulted

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A violent physical attack on someone, using fists, weapons, or other force.

   Like hitting something hard and fast to break through it.

   The soldiers launched an assault on the fort at dawn.

   Police arrived quickly to stop the violent assault.

   Similarattack, offensive, onslaught, raid

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To attack someone or something, with force or with strong words.

   Like throwing punches, sometimes with fists, and sometimes with sharp words.

   The angry crowd tried to assault the guards.

   Critics assaulted his new plan from every direction.

   Similarattack, assail, storm, charge

   Oppositedefend

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3. 3
   noununcountable

   The crime of attacking or trying to hurt another person.

   He was charged with assault after the fight.

   Assault is a serious crime in most places.

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A fierce attack on someone using angry words, insults, or criticism.

   Like throwing stones at someone, except the stones are angry words.

   Her speech was a direct assault on his honesty.

   The article was a harsh assault on the company's choices.

   Similarattack, onslaught, tirade, diatribe, broadside

5. 5
   nouncountable

   An action that makes someone fear they are about to be hurt.

   Like scaring someone by pretending you are about to throw something at them.

   Waving the knife counted as an assault, even though he never touched her.

   Pointing a loaded gun at someone is an assault.

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A violent attempt to hurt someone, even when no blow actually lands.

   Like swinging at a ball and missing: the try still counts.

   Swinging at him and missing still counts as assault.

   Raising a fist to threaten her was treated as assault.

   Similarattack

   Note
7. 7
   noununcountable

   The civil wrong of making someone fear harm, which they can sue over.

   She sued him for assault after he threatened to hit her.

   The lawsuit claimed both assault and battery.

   Note
8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To keep threatening or bothering someone.

   Strangers online tried to assault her with threats.

   They assaulted the witness with constant phone calls.

   Similarharass, bombard, menace, torment

9. 9
   nouncountable

   A friendly fight between two fencers that is not part of a contest.

   Before class, the two students put on their masks and fenced a quick assault with foils.

   Their evening assault on the fencing strip was just for fun, not part of the tournament.

   Similarbout

   Note

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