assault

American  

[uh-sawlt] / əˈsɔlt /

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

assault British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to make an assault upon

2. to rape or attempt to rape

Related Words

See attack.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of assault

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”

Example Sentences

According to the professional standards department, officers later reclassified the affray as two assaults - one with Theo as a victim and one as an offender - which he did not know and had not admitted to.

From BBC

There are currently 11 US warships in the Caribbean: the world's largest aircraft carrier, an amphibious assault ship, two amphibious transport dock ships, two cruisers and five destroyers.

From Barron's

In the 12 months after the Hamas assault, she said antisemitic incidents in Australia had surged 316 percent to more than 2,000 -- including threats, assaults, vandalism and intimidation.

From Barron's

Soldiers executed air assaults, simulated missile shots across islands, navigated gulches and slept fitfully under trees.

From The Wall Street Journal

In January 2022, on the eve of the full-scale assault, he warned that Russia was not a Great Power and should not be appeased.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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