assaultnoun
uk/əˈsɒlt/us/əˈsɑːlt/C2 [ C or U ] a violent attack:
He was charged with sexual assault.
UK The number of indecent assaults has increased alarmingly over the past year.
an assault on a police officer
They launched an assault on the capital yesterday.
[ C ] a determined or serious attempt to do something difficult:
Women's groups have demanded a nationwide assault on sexism in the workplace.
She died heroically during an assault on the world's second-highest mountain.
assault and battery [ U ] specialized
a threat to injure someone followed by a violent attack on them
More examples
- The assault was premeditated and particularly brutal.
- Cash Junior made a full-frontal assault on Hollywood's 'moral delinquency'.
- Racially motivated assaults on Asians are increasing.
- Assaults on hospital staff have increased over the last year.
- Police are hunting a student attacker after an unprovoked assault in a night club.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical & sexual assault & abduction
- abduct
- abduction
- aggravated assault
- beating
- bludgeon
- go for sb
- grievous bodily harm
- grooming
- happy slapping
- indecent assault
- indecent exposure
- lay
- mug
- rape
- set about sb
- set on/upon sb
- set sb/sth on sb
- sexual abuse
- sic
- violate
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Trying and making an effort
assaultverb [ T ]
uk/əˈsɒlt/us/əˈsɑːlt/C2 to attack someone violently:
A woman and a man have been convicted of assaulting a police officer.
He had attempted to sexually assault the woman.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical & sexual assault & abduction
- abduct
- abduction
- aggravated assault
- beating
- bludgeon
- go for sb
- grievous bodily harm
- grooming
- happy slapping
- indecent assault
- indecent exposure
- lay
- mug
- rape
- set about sb
- set on/upon sb
- set sb/sth on sb
- sexual abuse
- sic
- violate
See more results »