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

John Rothenstein, the director of the Tate in London, was so upset by Cooper’s incessant verbal assaults that he punched Cooper in the face.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Anderson explained that police officers often asked undermining or accusatory questions during medical exams: Was the woman dressed in a way that might have invited the assault, for example.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Agents have also shoved and assaulted protesters, they said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Quintero has served state prison terms for assault, car theft, possessing guns, manufacturing drugs and false imprisonment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Later, she says, he sexually assaults her; Hank goes from rising star to the unemployment line.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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