assailant

noun

as·​sail·​ant ə-ˈsā-lənt How to pronounce assailant (audio)
plural assailants
: 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

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.
Brian guns down an assailant, but not before the latter stabs Joe in the head. Barry Levitt, Time, 23 July 2025 The novel follows Jet, the daughter of a wealthy Vermont family who is brutally attacked one Halloween by an unknown assailant. Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 22 July 2025 Police identified the victim as Mott Haven resident Luis Marcano Sanchez, who died after he was shot several times in the torso by a moped-riding assailant near Bryant and Lafayette Aves. Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025 Investigators said one of the assailants also fired 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional officers who had stepped outside the building. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Assailant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assailant. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

assailant

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

More from Merriam-Webster on assailant

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