noun
1. a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
2. the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will
Synonym: rapeviolationravishment
3. close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
assault
verb
1. attack in speech or writing
e.g. The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
Synonym: attackroundassaillash outsnipe
2. attack someone physically or emotionally
e.g. The mugger assaulted the woman
Nightmares assailed him regularly
Synonym: assailset onattack
3. force (someone) to have sex against their will
e.g. The woman was raped on her way home at night
Synonym: raperavishviolatedishonordishonouroutrage