assailant

noun

as·​sail·​ant ə-ˈsā-lənt How to pronounce assailant (audio)
plural assailants
Synonyms of assailantnext
: a person who attacks someone violently
an assault by an unknown assailant
She could identify the assailant and his two accomplices, and she wanted to press charges.—Jennifer Baumgardner
Detectives speculated that she may have been punched on the chin, perhaps knocked unconscious by her assailant.—Joseph Wambaugh

Synonyms of assailant

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Examples of assailant in a Sentence

the darkness prevented me from getting a good look at my assailant
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The assailants used firearms and explosives, igniting the vehicle. — Widlore Mérancourt, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 The child fought off the assailant and escaped; the suspect found himself in handcuffs. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 Bishop is enlisted by new director Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) to help Gibbs on his quest to track down the unknown assailants who tried to kill him. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026 As the envoy leaves the British royal residence to fly back to the US, President Penn gets shot by an unknown assailant. — Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assailant

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of assailant was in 1523

Rhymes for assailant

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Browse Nearby Words

assailable
assailant
assailment
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Cite this Entry

“Assailant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assailant. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

assailant

noun
as·​sail·​ant ə-ˈsā-lənt How to pronounce assailant (audio)
: a person who commits criminal assault
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