assault | ||
1. | [ verb ] attack someone physically or emotionally | |
Synonyms: | assail attack set_on | |
Examples: | "The mugger assaulted the woman" "Nightmares assailed him regularly" |
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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" |
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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" |
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Related terms: | attention beginning | |
8. | [ adjective ] used in an attack | |
Synonyms: | attack | |
Examples: | "assault weapons", "attack planes" |
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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" |
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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 |