1
as in violating
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent
was registered as a sex offender after assaulting the victim
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in attacking
to take sudden, violent action against
was found guilty of assaulting an officer enemy forces assaulted the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assaulting
Arnold's name was first brought up in the case after 23-year-old Boakai Hilton, who is believed to be an associate of Arnold, Arianna Del Valle, Jasmine Randazzo, Christion Williams, Lyndell Hudson and Freddie Hughes were arrested for allegedly kidnapping three men and assaulting them.
—
Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
According to a 911 call log, a caller reported that her boyfriend was assaulting her at that address.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
Taylor Frankie Paul’s season ofThe Bachelorette was canceled after TMZ released a video of Paul assaulting Dakota Mortensen, her ex and the father of her youngest child, Ever True, in 2023.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Evil Kirk is a frightening, primal menace, skulking around the corridors like a feral beast, chugging brandy and assaulting Yeoman Rand with no conscience.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
The decision was made Thursday after a 2023 video surfaced showing the season’s star, Taylor Frankie Paul, assaulting her then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
In addition to accusations Chávez abused minors and women, his longtime ally Dolores Huerta accused Chávez of assaulting her, too.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Rodriguez was convicted in 2024 of assaulting a woman and threatening to kill another.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Three women are accused of attacking and robbing another woman who tried to stop them from assaulting someone at the Aberdeen MARC train station last summer.
—Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2026
Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
According to a 911 call log, a caller reported that her boyfriend was assaulting her at that address.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
Taylor Frankie Paul’s season ofThe Bachelorette was canceled after TMZ released a video of Paul assaulting Dakota Mortensen, her ex and the father of her youngest child, Ever True, in 2023.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Evil Kirk is a frightening, primal menace, skulking around the corridors like a feral beast, chugging brandy and assaulting Yeoman Rand with no conscience.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
The decision was made Thursday after a 2023 video surfaced showing the season’s star, Taylor Frankie Paul, assaulting her then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
In addition to accusations Chávez abused minors and women, his longtime ally Dolores Huerta accused Chávez of assaulting her, too.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Rodriguez was convicted in 2024 of assaulting a woman and threatening to kill another.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Three women are accused of attacking and robbing another woman who tried to stop them from assaulting someone at the Aberdeen MARC train station last summer.
—Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaulting
Verb
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In their filing in Sacramento Superior Court, the residents accuse city officials of violating Measure O, which mandates that interim shelters sit more than 500 feet away from bodies of water or streams.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Sculptor and illustrator Jacques Tilly, who designed the aforementioned float, has been reported to the police for disseminating hate speech and violating the Criminal Code, which prohibits the use of Nazi imagery for purposes not expressly linked to art, scholarship, teaching, or reporting.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are outside groups aligned with Democrats, yet much of their spending has focused on attacking Collins, rather than supporting a Democratic primary candidate.—
Steve Mistler,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
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Regardless, there’s no excuse — even in hard knocks politics — for attacking someone because of his disability.—
George Skelton,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The complaint accused the two musicians of taking turns raping a 13-year-old girl at a party after the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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Chavez, a notable figure during California’s farmworkers rights movement during the 1960s and 1970s, has been accused of raping and molesting multiple women during the 1970s, some as girls at the time.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The new administration accuses the Gainey administration of raiding city trust funds to pay for some programs and departments while underfunding others.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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That’s a different kind of story than raiding a floating restaurant or escaping a marine base.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fungi aren’t literally storming areas like rain or hail, but storms act as the vehicle while the spores supply the threat.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
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Dweir said an argument between a resident of Suqaylabiyah and another from Qalaat al-Madiq led to scores of men from the Sunni town storming the area and attacking shops, homes and cars.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police have accused a man of robbing a convenience store in Fairfield earlier this month.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
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And not only the best players but the oldest ones, robbing mid-majors of their great advantage — veteran rosters perfecting intricate offenses for years — back when power conferences trafficked in one-and-done stars amid more restrictive transfer regulations.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rajabi was therefore reduced to meeting Khamenei by ambushing him after evening prayers in his compound.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
1 Mar. 2026
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The man accused of ambushing West Virginia National Guard members near the White House in November, killing one and severely wounding another, is set to be arraigned in court on Wednesday.—
Steve Beynon,
ABC News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assaulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaulting. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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