assailers
Those who attack
Those who assail—who attack violently or criticize harshly.
The word appears in both physical and verbal contexts: The assailers broke through the gate or Her assailers in the press showed no mercy.
Less common than "attackers" but carries a slightly more literary or formal tone.
Those who attack unexpectedly
- raidersThose who plunder
- intrudersUnauthorized entrants
- invadersThose who enter by force
- assaultersThose who commit violence
aggressors · muggers · bushwhackers · assassins · hitmen · gunmen · snipers · terrorists
People who criticize
- attackersThose launching offensive action
- accusersThose who blame others
- denouncersThose who condemn publicly
- criticsThose who evaluate work
disparagers · vilifiers · slanderers · defamers · hecklers · trolls · mudslinger · objectors
Those who oppose you
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- foesHostile opponents
- nemesesInescapable, unconquerable opponents
rivals · challengers · contenders · opposers · combatants · hostiles
Military personnel who fight
- warriorsPeople engaged in battle
- fightersThose who engage physically
- mercenariesSoldiers paid to fight
- commandosElite assault troops
militia · gladiators · infantry · marines · cavalry · troops · sharpshooters · legionnaires
ambushers
Those who attack unexpectedly
assaulters · aggressors · muggers · bushwhackers · assassins · hitmen · gunmen · snipers · terrorists · kidnappers
detractors
People who criticize
- attackersThose launching offensive action
- accusersThose who blame others
- denouncersThose who condemn publicly
critics · disparagers · vilifiers · slanderers · defamers · hecklers · trolls · mudslinger · objectors · challengers
adversaries
Those who oppose you
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- foesHostile opponents
nemeses · rivals · challengers · contenders · opposers · combatants · hostiles
soldiers
Military personnel who fight
- warriorsPeople engaged in battle
- fightersThose who engage physically
- mercenariesSoldiers paid to fight
commandos · militia · gladiators · infantry · marines · cavalry · troops · sharpshooters · legionnaires · partisans
assailersdefenders
Those who shield others
protectors · guardians · shields · sentinels · bodyguards
assailersrescuers
Those who save endangered people
saviors · liberators · champions · preservers · deliverers