assault
A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example blows, weapons, etc.
Noun 4 meanings
A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example blows, weapons, etc.
“The army made an assault on the enemy.”
A violent verbal attack, for example with insults, criticism, and the like
“She launched a written assault on the opposition party.”
An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching the person, such as by raising a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at the person and missing.
The crime whose action is such an attempt.
Verb 2 meanings
To attack, physically or figuratively; to assail.
“Tom was accused of assaulting another man outside a nightclub.”
To threaten or harass.
Etymology
From Middle English assaut, from Old French noun assaut, derived from the past participle of the verb assalir, from Late Latin assalīre, from Latin ad (“at, towards”) + salīre (“jump”). See also assail. Spelling Latinized around 1530 to add an l.
Similar and opposite words
ASSAULT at a glance
ASSAULT has 7 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (A 1 + S 1 + S 1 + A 1 + U 1 + L 1 + T 1) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #3,283 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with assault
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