ASSAULT Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'assault' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assault are assail , attack , bombard , and storm . While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught. // commandos assaulted the building from all sides

Q: When could 'assail' be used to replace 'assault'?

While the synonyms assail and assault are close in meaning, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots. // assailed the enemy with artillery fire

Q: When is it sensible to use 'attack' instead of 'assault'?

Although the words attack and assault have much in common, attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle. // plan to attack the town at dawn

Q: When would 'bombard' be a good substitute for 'assault'?

The words bombard and assault are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells. // bombarded the city nightly

Q: When is 'storm' a more appropriate choice than 'assault'?

The words storm and assault can be used in similar contexts, but storm implies attempting to break into a defended position. // preparing to storm the fortress

assault 1 of 2

noun

ə-ˈsȯlt

Definition of assault

as in attack

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence was arrested for his assault of the bystander

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in violation

the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse attended a class teaching women self-defense against assault

Synonyms & Similar Words

assault

2 of 2

verb

as in to attack

to take sudden, violent action against was found guilty of assaulting an officer enemy forces assaulted the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to violate

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb assault contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assault are assail, attack, bombard, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When could assail be used to replace assault?

While the synonyms assail and assault are close in meaning, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When is it sensible to use attack instead of assault?

Although the words attack and assault have much in common, attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When would bombard be a good substitute for assault?

The words bombard and assault are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When is storm a more appropriate choice than assault?

The words storm and assault can be used in similar contexts, but storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of assault

Noun

Some of those students say the university found their attackers responsible for the assault – only to let them off the hook with light punishments. — Casey Tolan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 Donald Wells, the 61-year-old father of missing Summer Wells, has been arrested again — this time on a domestic assault charge, according to court records in Tennessee. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Verb

In written reports, customers compared the ordeal to being robbed, held hostage or physically assaulted. — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 Lisa protests, Clancy moves to assault her, and Thomas gets in the way. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assault

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assault

Noun

The claim that Ukraine has halted its strikes on energy sites could not be independently verified, but neither Russian officials nor media have reported Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries since the energy truce was announced.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Before the current attacks, the airport handled roughly 110,000 passengers a day — similar in scale to Miami International airport.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

And unlike state authorities who can be sued for civil rights violations in state courts, federal law enforcement authorities are generally shielded from such lawsuits based on legal precedents.

— Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Chicago should provide workable loading zones, preserve first-offense warnings, and publicly report whether violations and crashes actually decline.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of violation

Verb

In January, the FBI raided a Post reporter’s home, as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of mishandling sensitive national security information.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Authorities on Wednesday raided the headquarters of one of Turkey ’s few broadcasters not aligned with the government, and appointed a trustee manager to oversee the popular news channel as part of an investigation into alleged corruption.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of raid

Verb

California is among the states that successfully sued, in part by arguing that turning over the data would violate state privacy laws.

— SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
As noted recently by Deadline, other Chinese AI models continue to plunder IP, including MiniMax H3, which generated videos that violated studio brand safety standards 55% of the time when an image was used in a prompt.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of violate

Noun

Instagram direct messages to a University of Miami football player that included rape imagery, violent slavery imagery, three uses of the N-word and two uses of a homophobic slur are under investigation by the Florida Bar.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
This means that the larger social dynamics created by rape—even the prospect of rape—in small, intimate communities go unconsidered.

— B. D. McClay, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of rape

Verb

Why burn down the Limoges city hall, the tourist office in Lyon, storm the Marseille city hall, or attack the prefect’s residence in Bordeaux?

— Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
The flow of money from Qatar into Gaza has taken on new significance since October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed southern Israel, murdered some 1,200 people, and took 251 more hostage.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of storm

Verb

Andrey Khrzhanovskiy, a blogger who filmed the assault, said the settlers beat Levine with sticks while the journalists and villagers were forced to retreat.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Trump repeatedly leaned on Thune to kill the filibuster in order to pass it, and other senators wanted Thune to try to force Democrats to pull off a talking filibuster to block the bill.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of force

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assassins

assault

assault boat

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“Assault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assault. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of assault

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Synonyms of assault

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing assault

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on assault

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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