assailer
One who strikes
An assailer is someone who attacks or assaults another person, either physically or verbally.
The word appears in formal or literary contexts: The victim could not identify her assailer.
It shares meaning with attacker and assailant, though assailant is more common in legal and journalistic usage.
One who initiates conflict
- attackerOne who strikes first
- invaderOne who enters aggressively
- raiderOne who attacks suddenly
- muggerOne who robs violently
ambusher · striker · charger · offender · perpetrator · intruder · marauder · combatant
One who opposes another
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- opponentOne who contends against
- enemyHostile opposing party
- foeHostile opponent
rival · challenger · nemesis · aggressor · hostile · belligerent · combatant · contender
Violently intense or aggressive
- ferociousExtremely violent or aggressive
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- mercilessShowing no clemency
relentless · brutal · savage · violent · menacing · intimidating · hostile · aggressive
Source of potential harm
- dangerExposure to harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
terror · dread · warning · ominous · foreboding · alarming · threatening · looming
aggressor
One who initiates conflict
mugger · ambusher · striker · charger · offender · perpetrator · intruder · marauder · combatant · warrior
antagonist
One who opposes another
foe · rival · challenger · nemesis · aggressor · hostile · belligerent · combatant · contender · opposition
fierce
Violently intense or aggressive
- ferociousExtremely violent or aggressive
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
merciless · relentless · brutal · savage · violent · menacing · intimidating · hostile · aggressive · pugnacious
menace
Source of potential harm
intimidation · terror · dread · warning · ominous · foreboding · alarming · threatening · looming · stalking
assail, assailant, unassailable, assailed, assailants, assailing, assails, unassailed, assailers