assault
1. [ verb ] attack someone physically or emotionally
Synonyms: assail attack set_on
Examples:

"The mugger assaulted the woman" "Nightmares assailed him regularly"

Related terms: rush jump rape beset molest desecrate reassail blindside savage sic bulldog bait attacker attack
2. [ noun ] (military) close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
Related terms: battle storm resisting_arrest attack military
3. [ noun ] (law,criminal law) a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
Related terms: attack battery mugging aggravated_assault assail
4. [ noun ] (law,criminal law) an assault in which the assailant makes physical contact
Synonyms: assault_and_battery battery
Related terms: crime attack mugging resisting_arrest
5. [ noun ] (zoology,horse racing) thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946
Related terms: thoroughbred
6. [ verb ] attack verbally, in speech or writing
Synonyms: attack lash_out assail snipe round
Examples:

"The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"

Related terms: criticize abuse vitriol whang blister rip claw rubbish barrage attacker
7. [ noun ] turning your attention to a problem or a job etc.
Synonyms: tone-beginning attack
Examples:

"his attack on the problem was misguided" "he did not make a direct assault on her affections"

Related terms: attention beginning
8. [ adjective ] used in an attack
Synonyms: attack
Examples:

"assault weapons", "attack planes"

Related terms: offensive
9. [ verb ] (criminal law,sexuality) force (someone) to have sex against their will
Synonyms: rape dishonor violate dishonour outrage ravish
Examples:

"The woman was raped on her way home at night"

Related terms: assail gang-rape raper outrage violator rape
10. [ noun ] (law,criminal law,sexuality) the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will
Synonyms: violation ravishment sexual_assault sexual_abuse rape
Related terms: crime sex_crime date_rape statutory_rape rape
Similar spelling:   assaulter
  assaulted
  assaultive