assailant

noun

as·​sail·​ant ə-ˈsā-lənt 

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

Synonyms

• assaulter
• attacker
• bushwhacker

Examples of assailant in a Sentence

the darkness prevented me from getting a good look at my assailant

Recent Examples on the Web

In the hours following his death, a fascination grew around who his assailant might be, what the motives were. —Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 30 Dec. 2024

In the fray, the man stabbed two of his assailants, killing one. —Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 Dec. 2024

Minutes after their assailant fled, Kandice spotted Kathie on the ground and dragged herself toward her. —Johnny Dodd, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024

They’re both murdered, but Eric ends up in purgatory, where a spirit guide explains a titular bird took pity on his tragedy, giving him the chance to return from the dead, kill his assailant, and be reunited with Zadie. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

assailant

noun

as·​sail·​ant ə-ˈsā-lənt 

: a person who commits criminal assault