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Harassing vs Assault - What's the difference?

harassing | assault |

As verbs the difference between harassing and assault

is that harassing is while assault is to attack, threaten or harass.

As nouns the difference between harassing and assault

is that harassing is harassment while 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.

harassing

English

Verb

(head)
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • harassment
  • * 1826 , Charles Swan, Journal of a voyage up the Mediterranean
  • Sometimes we observe these wretched peasants, driven to despair by the harassings of the Boyars, commit the useless imprudence of going to the capital, and, under the windows of the prince, with loud cries, require him to hear their claims.

    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.