Assault
noun
A violent attack.
He was arrested for assault.
Often appears as...
- physical assault
- sexual assault
verb
To make a physical attack on.
He assaulted the man who tried to steal his wallet.
Often appears as...
- assault someone
- physically assault
noun
In law, an intentional act causing physical harm or offensive contact.
The victim brought assault charges against her attacker.
Often appears as...
- assault charges
- assault case
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
Critically discuss or attack someone or something.
The politician assaulted his opponent's policies during the debate.
Often appears as...
- assault policies
- verbally assault
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A violent attack.
He was arrested for assault.
Often appears as...
- physical assault
- sexual assault
verb
To make a physical attack on.
He assaulted the man who tried to steal his wallet.
Often appears as...
- assault someone
- physically assault
noun
In law, an intentional act causing physical harm or offensive contact.
The victim brought assault charges against her attacker.
Often appears as...
- assault charges
- assault case
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
Critically discuss or attack someone or something.
The politician assaulted his opponent's policies during the debate.
Often appears as...
- assault policies
- verbally assault
Usage tips
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Matters
Assault refers to serious harm, not minor scuffles or arguments.
The brawl at the bar was reported as an assault.
Pro Tip 2/3Contextual Use
In news, 'assault' often implies criminal investigation or charges.
Following the assault, the area was cordoned off for investigation.
Pro Tip 3/3Connotation
Assault carries a negative connotation, suggesting a breach of peace or safety.
The assault in the quiet town shocked its residents.
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Matters
Assault refers to serious harm, not minor scuffles or arguments.
The brawl at the bar was reported as an assault.
Pro Tip 2/3Contextual Use
In news, 'assault' often implies criminal investigation or charges.
Following the assault, the area was cordoned off for investigation.
Pro Tip 3/3Connotation
Assault carries a negative connotation, suggesting a breach of peace or safety.
The assault in the quiet town shocked its residents.
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Matters
Assault refers to serious harm, not minor scuffles or arguments.
The brawl at the bar was reported as an assault.
Pro Tip 2/3Contextual Use
In news, 'assault' often implies criminal investigation or charges.
Following the assault, the area was cordoned off for investigation.
Pro Tip 3/3Connotation
Assault carries a negative connotation, suggesting a breach of peace or safety.
The assault in the quiet town shocked its residents.
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Video examples
The urgent need for...
you're not good enough to vote just because you're black we said the black kids you can't go to school with other kids because you're black I started my education at a colored school my parents were humiliated every day of their lives when they saw those signs that said white and colored they weren't direction they were assaults and we haven't tried to address them we try to press on and
Video examples
How we talk about sexual...
and I was working on the local student paper there. Despite being lucky enough to have friends and family supporting me, it was an isolating time. I didn't know anyone who'd been through this before; at least I didn't think I did. I'd read news reports, statistics, and knew how common sexual assault was, yet I couldn't actually name a single person
Video examples
The nightmare videos of...
Children's cartoons getting assaulted, getting killed, weird pranks that actually genuinely terrify children. What you have is software pulling in all of these different influences to automatically generate kids' worst nightmares. And this stuff really, really does affect small children.
Video examples
The truth about unwanted...
or a cop or anyone who might sit on a jury in a sexual assault case. Say "Some people think that your body doesn't respond if you don't want or like what's happening, if only that were true. Instead, arousal nonconcordance. Say this to the confused teenager in your life
Video examples
BEWARE Very Fierce Dogs...
explosives while others are used on the frontline there's assault dogs what these guys are doing here is is building a school and which they're going to train more and more of these dogs and these are exactly what we need to really make life
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
sexually assaulted some time in their life now I don't think that's the fault of popular entertainment I don't think kids movies have anything to do with that I don't even think that you know music videos or pornography are really
Video examples
Prison Victim PIPE National...
son they arrested me for aggravated battery cruelty to children and then when they pulled the plug on my son's life they upgraded the charges to malice murder cruelty and children aggravated assault aggravated battery and an they
Video examples
Is the world getting...
We penetrate the mysteries of the cosmos, including life and mind. We live longer, suffer less, learn more, get smarter and enjoy more small pleasures and rich experiences. Fewer of us are killed, assaulted, enslaved, exploited
Video examples
The Battle Between Eel...
fish is gonna need to mount a comeback here the assault isn't over though as the eel clamps down a second pair of jaws deep inside its throat slides up to chew the meal and that is alien that is the xenomorph from alien can be
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
say that they have been sexually assaulted some time in their life. Now, I don't think that's the fault of popular entertainment. I don't think kids' movies have anything to do with that. I don't even think that
Video examples
The urgent need for...
you're not good enough to vote just because you're black we said the black kids you can't go to school with other kids because you're black I started my education at a colored school my parents were humiliated every day of their lives when they saw those signs that said white and colored they weren't direction they were assaults and we haven't tried to address them we try to press on and
Video examples
How we talk about sexual...
and I was working on the local student paper there. Despite being lucky enough to have friends and family supporting me, it was an isolating time. I didn't know anyone who'd been through this before; at least I didn't think I did. I'd read news reports, statistics, and knew how common sexual assault was, yet I couldn't actually name a single person
Video examples
The nightmare videos of...
Children's cartoons getting assaulted, getting killed, weird pranks that actually genuinely terrify children. What you have is software pulling in all of these different influences to automatically generate kids' worst nightmares. And this stuff really, really does affect small children.
Video examples
The truth about unwanted...
or a cop or anyone who might sit on a jury in a sexual assault case. Say "Some people think that your body doesn't respond if you don't want or like what's happening, if only that were true. Instead, arousal nonconcordance. Say this to the confused teenager in your life
Video examples
BEWARE Very Fierce Dogs...
explosives while others are used on the frontline there's assault dogs what these guys are doing here is is building a school and which they're going to train more and more of these dogs and these are exactly what we need to really make life
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
sexually assaulted some time in their life now I don't think that's the fault of popular entertainment I don't think kids movies have anything to do with that I don't even think that you know music videos or pornography are really
Video examples
Prison Victim PIPE National...
son they arrested me for aggravated battery cruelty to children and then when they pulled the plug on my son's life they upgraded the charges to malice murder cruelty and children aggravated assault aggravated battery and an they
Video examples
Is the world getting...
We penetrate the mysteries of the cosmos, including life and mind. We live longer, suffer less, learn more, get smarter and enjoy more small pleasures and rich experiences. Fewer of us are killed, assaulted, enslaved, exploited
Video examples
The Battle Between Eel...
fish is gonna need to mount a comeback here the assault isn't over though as the eel clamps down a second pair of jaws deep inside its throat slides up to chew the meal and that is alien that is the xenomorph from alien can be
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
say that they have been sexually assaulted some time in their life. Now, I don't think that's the fault of popular entertainment. I don't think kids' movies have anything to do with that. I don't even think that
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Michael Gove
British Politician
At the moment, I'm afraid that the discipline system doesn't give teachers the support that they need. One thing that I've been struck by is that the number of violent assaults on teachers increased last year. We need to be clear that teachers have the power they need in order to impose discipline.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
Almost all our suffering is the product of our thoughts. We spend nearly every moment of our lives lost in thought, and hostage to the character of those thoughts. You can break this spell, but it takes training just like it takes training to defend yourself against a physical assault.
Quote examples
Wole Soyinka
Nigerian Dramatist
One's own self-worth is tied to the worth of the community to which one belongs, which is intimately connected to humanity in general. What happens in Darfur becomes an assault on my own community, and on me as an individual. That's what the human family is all about.
Quote examples
David Petraeus
American General
The truth is that a number of us have been saying for quite some time that it was only a matter of time until someone went to a gun show, bought a military-like semi-automatic assault weapon with a large capacity magazine, and did enormous damage.
Quote examples
Martin Luther King III
American Activist
There is no one policy that can end gun violence. But a ban on the sale of assault weapons to the general public is a critical goal that must be achieved if we are ever going to have peaceful communities.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
Concentration of executive power, unless it's very temporary and for specific circumstances, let's say fighting world war two, it's an assault on democracy.
Quote examples
Mike Quigley
American Politician
When you have a high-volume magazine or an assault weapon, you're not hunting deer or protecting your home; you're out to hunt people.
Quote examples
Asa Hutchinson
American Lawyer
You can have bans on assault weapons or whatever weapons you wish, and it's not going to protect from a violent person.
Quote examples
Charles Oakley
American Athlete
I always try to treat people with respect and I just don't know. I got three assault cases for no reason.
Quote examples
Thomas Hobbes
English Philosopher
A man cannot lay down the right of resisting them that assault him by force, to take away his life.
Quote examples
Michael Gove
British Politician
At the moment, I'm afraid that the discipline system doesn't give teachers the support that they need. One thing that I've been struck by is that the number of violent assaults on teachers increased last year. We need to be clear that teachers have the power they need in order to impose discipline.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
Almost all our suffering is the product of our thoughts. We spend nearly every moment of our lives lost in thought, and hostage to the character of those thoughts. You can break this spell, but it takes training just like it takes training to defend yourself against a physical assault.
Quote examples
Wole Soyinka
Nigerian Dramatist
One's own self-worth is tied to the worth of the community to which one belongs, which is intimately connected to humanity in general. What happens in Darfur becomes an assault on my own community, and on me as an individual. That's what the human family is all about.
Quote examples
David Petraeus
American General
The truth is that a number of us have been saying for quite some time that it was only a matter of time until someone went to a gun show, bought a military-like semi-automatic assault weapon with a large capacity magazine, and did enormous damage.
Quote examples
Martin Luther King III
American Activist
There is no one policy that can end gun violence. But a ban on the sale of assault weapons to the general public is a critical goal that must be achieved if we are ever going to have peaceful communities.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
Concentration of executive power, unless it's very temporary and for specific circumstances, let's say fighting world war two, it's an assault on democracy.
Quote examples
Mike Quigley
American Politician
When you have a high-volume magazine or an assault weapon, you're not hunting deer or protecting your home; you're out to hunt people.
Quote examples
Asa Hutchinson
American Lawyer
You can have bans on assault weapons or whatever weapons you wish, and it's not going to protect from a violent person.
Quote examples
Charles Oakley
American Athlete
I always try to treat people with respect and I just don't know. I got three assault cases for no reason.
Quote examples
Thomas Hobbes
English Philosopher
A man cannot lay down the right of resisting them that assault him by force, to take away his life.
Example 1 of 10
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