əˈseɪl əˈsɔːlt əˈsɑlt əˈsɔːlt əˈsɑlt əˈtæk dɪsˈɑnəɹ dɪsˈɒnə(ɹ) ˈaʊt.ɹeɪd͡ʒ ˈɹæ.vɪʃ ˈvaɪəˌleɪt ˌvaɪəˈleɪʃən a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped the crime of forcing a person to submit to sexual intercourse against his or her will attack in speech or writing The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker close fighting during the culmination of a military attack attack someone physically or emotionally The mugger assaulted the woman Nightmares assailed him regularly force (someone) to have sex against their will The woman was raped on her way home at night