ASSAULTING Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

assaulting

verb

present participle of assault

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

Relevance

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

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 assaulting In 2023, Anthony talked about assaulting people, getting into fights and shooting up a school. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2026 Bullying and assault allegations In 2018, according to court documents, while still in elementary school, Austin Metcalf and his brother were accused of bullying and assaulting a female, which led to Austin Metcalf's arrest. — J.d. Miles, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 In the book, Harry accused William of physically assaulting him during an argument over Meghan in 2019. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Pleitez would later tell police she was being confronted by Ahumada and others, who were assaulting her 20-year-old companion and attempting to drag him from the car. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 Another recording from later that night allegedly showed Ayres repeatedly assaulting her for more than a minute. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Conviser’s case, which was partially dismissed for lack of standing, accused legendary DePaul softball coach Eugene Lenti of verbally and mentally abusing his athletes and physically assaulting a staffer. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The case has also received widespread coverage in the US – including on CNN – where Trump has been assaulting DEI policies. — Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 As if assaulting people and shooting people in the streets wasn’t enough. — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assaulting

Verb

In a statement, Bonta accused Paramount of violating the meeting’s confidentiality.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026
The announcement, which came during a contract bargaining session in July, led to frustrations within the company’s editorial union, which says the Times is violating its own editorial standards around AI use.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of violating

Verb

Piker then fired back at Scholten on social media, accusing her of seeking attention and attacking him over his opposition to Zionism.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026
Binu Palal showed video of Shakur’s entourage attacking Davis’ nephew Orlando Anderson.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacking

Verb

The game centers on a male character stalking and raping a mother and her two young daughters.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Conahan was arrested in February 1997, accused of raping Montgomery, strangling him and cutting off his genitals to eliminate DNA tracing.

— CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of raping

Verb

That’s been the story of this third season, one that started with Rhaenyra storming the castle and taking the Iron Throne and then promptly saw her get picked apart by dozens of unforeseen calamities.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Despite a 25% decline in gold from its high in January, proponents of the precious metal are storming into bullish call positions after almost two months of sideways action gives way to a rally Friday following weak jobs data.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of storming

Verb

Prosecutors also found text messages from 2021 between Karmelo Anthony and another student about robbing someone for $300.

— J.D. Miles, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
An Arizona Shake Shack employee is facing charges after allegedly robbing his own restaurant at gunpoint, locking two co-workers in a walk-in cooler and then returning to work in uniform just two days later.

— Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of robbing

Verb

After ambushing Nobel hopeful Kersten onboard, Wohmann makes multiple attempts to interview him.

— Alissa Simon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Prosecutors, meanwhile, have alleged that Mangione meticulously planned the killing for months, documenting his thoughts in journals and traveling across the country before ambushing Thompson in New York City.

— Stepheny Price , Michael Ruiz , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026

Definition of ambushing

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assaulters

assaulting

assaultive

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“Assaulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assaulting. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of assaulting

verb

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