What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Assault vs Affront - What's the difference?

assault | affront |

As nouns the difference between assault and affront

is that assault is a violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town while affront is .

As a verb assault

is to attack, threaten or harass.

assault

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town.
  • * Prescott
    • The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Unshaken bears the assault / Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwest.
  • A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments, appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of a prince, or on the constitution of a government.
  • (criminal, legal) An attempt to commit battery: a violent attempt, or willful effort with force or violence, to do hurt to another, but without necessarily touching his person, as by lifting a fist in a threatening manner, or by striking at him and missing him.
  • (singulare tantum, legal) The crime whose action is such an attempt.
  • An act that causes someone to apprehend imminent bodily harm.
  • (singulare tantum, legal) The tort whose action is such an act.
  • (fencing) A non-competitive combat between two fencers.

    • Synonyms

    *

    Derived terms

    * antiassault * assault and battery * nonassault * reassault

    Coordinate terms

    * battery

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To attack, threaten or harass.

    • affront

    English

    (wikipedia affront)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To insult intentionally, especially openly.
  • * Addison
    • How can anyone imagine that the fathers would have dared to affront the wife of Aurelius?
  • To meet defiantly; to confront.
    • to affront death
  • * 1978 , (Lawrence Durrell), Livia'', Faber & Faber 1992 (''Avignon Quintet ), p. 436:
    • Avignon was beginning to settle down for the night – that long painful stretch of time which must somehow be affronted .
  • (obsolete) To meet or encounter face to face.
  • * Holland
    • All the sea-coasts do affront the Levant.
  • * Shakespeare
    • That he, as 'twere by accident, may here / Affront Ophelia.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An open or intentional offense, slight, or insult.
    • Such behavior is an affront to society.
  • (obsolete) A hostile encounter or meeting.

    • Synonyms

    * See also