assault

IPA: ʌsˈɔɫt

A violent onset or attack with physical means, for example blows, weapons, etc.
A violent verbal attack, for example with insults, criticism, and the like
(criminal law) An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching the person, such as by raising a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at the person and missing.
(singular only, law) The crime whose action is such an attempt.
(tort law) An act that causes someone to apprehend imminent bodily harm (such as brandishing a weapon).
(singular only, law) The tort whose action is such an act.
(fencing) A non-competitive combat between two fencers.

Examples of "assault" in Sentences

They manage to elude the assault.
Accounts of the assault differ markedly.
He was the head of the assault on the jews.
The boy was charged with assault and affray.
Sexual assault and rape can happen at college.
The criminal was arrested for committing assault.
Pressured by the Hurons to attack prematurely, the assault failed.
Several soldiers have been charged with physical assault and verbal attack.
A family wants the teenager who hit their son at school to be charged with assault and battery.
They included sexual assault, attempted rape and carrying out lewd and libidinous practices towards children.