assault
To make a sudden, violent physical attack on a person or place, or to criticize someone or something very strongly. In a legal context, it can refer to the act of causing someone to apprehend immediate violence.
Examples
3 of 5He was charged with trying to assault a security guard outside the stadium.
He was accused of attempting to physically attack a guard outside the stadium.
The military forces were ordered to assault the enemy stronghold at daybreak.
The troops were commanded to launch an attack on the fortified position at dawn.
That neon yellow shirt is really assaulting my eyes right now!
That bright shirt is very unpleasant and overwhelming to look at.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'A-Salt'. If someone throws a bag of salt into your eyes, it is a painful physical assault.
Quick Quiz
The defendant was found guilty of attempting to _______ a police officer during the protest.
Correct!
The correct answer is: assault
Examples
He was charged with trying to assault a security guard outside the stadium.
everydayHe was accused of attempting to physically attack a guard outside the stadium.
The military forces were ordered to assault the enemy stronghold at daybreak.
formalThe troops were commanded to launch an attack on the fortified position at dawn.
That neon yellow shirt is really assaulting my eyes right now!
informalThat bright shirt is very unpleasant and overwhelming to look at.
The paper seeks to assault the prevailing theories of economic growth using new data sets.
academicThe article aims to strongly challenge and criticize existing economic theories with new data.
The company plans to assault the European market with a series of low-cost, high-quality products.
businessThe firm intends to aggressively enter and compete within the European market.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
assault and battery
A legal term for a physical attack involving both the threat and the act
assault on the senses
An experience that is overwhelming to one's perception
armed assault
An attack carried out with weapons
Often Confused With
An insult is a verbal offense to someone's feelings, while an assault is a violent physical or intense metaphorical attack.
In many legal systems, assault is the threat of violence, whereas battery is the actual physical contact.
Usage Notes
While primarily used for physical violence, it is common in metaphorical contexts, such as 'assaulting one's intelligence' or 'assaulting a market'. In legal English, its definition varies by jurisdiction, sometimes requiring only the threat of harm.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget that 'assault' is a transitive verb and does not usually require a preposition like 'on' when used as a verb (e.g., 'they assaulted the city' is correct, not 'they assaulted on the city').
Memory Tip
Think of 'A-Salt'. If someone throws a bag of salt into your eyes, it is a painful physical assault.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French word 'assault', which comes from the Latin 'adsaltus', meaning 'to leap upon'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Western legal systems, assault is a serious criminal offense, and the term is frequently used in news reporting regarding crime and military operations.
Quick Quiz
The defendant was found guilty of attempting to _______ a police officer during the protest.
Correct!
The correct answer is: assault
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
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circummentcy
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adcedent
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