grave assault

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grave assault" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or formal contexts to describe a serious or severe form of assault. Example: "The defendant was charged with grave assault after the attack left the victim with life-threatening injuries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It says that the conduct of the war represented a "grave assault on the entire regime of international law".

The New York Times

The UN panel says that the sheer proportion of the alleged crimes constitutes a "grave assault on the entire regime of international law".

The Guardian - Opinion

It adds: "Indeed, the conduct of the war represented a grave assault on the entire regime of international law designed to protect individual dignity during both war and peace".

Independent

Republicans would say that gun-control legislation like the background-check bill that failed in April is a grave assault on second-amendment freedoms and therefore a perfect case for employing the filibuster.

The Economist

As the UN report said: "The conduct of the war by both sides represented a grave assault on the entire regime of international law designed to protect individual dignity during both war and peace.

The Guardian - Opinion

The report calls the conduct of the war "a grave assault on the entire regime of international law designed to protect individual dignity during both war and peace".The government, however, is now too deeply wedded to its strategy of denial to back down even an inch.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

He linked GTA to a number of violent crimes, calling GTA IV 'the gravest assault upon children in this country since polio'.

The Guardian - Tech

While much progress was made at that July summit meeting at Camp David, it ended after 15 days in deadlock over the issue of Jerusalem, the very site where the worst violence in four years between the Palestinians and Israelis erupted in the gravest assault on the peace effort since Mr. Clinton came to office.

The New York Times

However, upon the game's 2008 release, Thompson called Grand Theft Auto IV "the gravest assault upon children in this country since polio," and asked Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to "pursue and file criminal charges against [Minnesota-based retailers] Target and Best Buy".

Wikipedia

I choose my words carefully when I write that the government's proposal for the reform of Ofcom is one of the gravest assaults on broadcasting freedom I have seen in the UK.

The Guardian

Heavy Assault.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing legal or ethical breaches, use "grave assault" to underscore the severity and potential consequences of the actions. It is particularly effective when emphasizing the violation of established norms or laws.

Common error

Avoid using "grave assault" in contexts where the severity is not significant or the violation is minor. Overusing it can dilute its impact and diminish the perceived seriousness of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave assault" functions as a noun phrase typically used as an object or complement. Ludwig AI confirms that it's used to denote a severe violation or attack, often in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grave assault" is a phrase used to describe a severe and serious violation or attack, often in formal contexts. Ludwig AI analysis shows that it's grammatically correct and mainly appears in news and formal settings. Related phrases include "serious attack" and "severe aggression", each with slightly different nuances. It is crucial to use "grave assault" when the severity of the offense warrants such strong language and to avoid overuse to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious attack

Emphasizes the severity of the attack, focusing on the impact and consequences.

severe aggression

Highlights the intensity and forcefulness of the aggressive action.

major transgression

Focuses on the violation of rules or moral principles in a significant way.

flagrant violation

Underscores the obvious and shocking nature of the violation.

heinous offense

Stresses the wickedness and reprehensibility of the offense.

grievous infringement

Highlights the serious and damaging nature of the infringement.

egregious breach

Emphasizes the outstandingly bad and shocking nature of the breach.

significant violation

Focuses on the importance and impact of the violation.

substantial infraction

Highlights the considerable size or extent of the infraction.

critical breach

Highlights how the breach affects vital points.

FAQs

How to use "grave assault" in a sentence?

You can use "grave assault" to describe a serious violation of international law, as in, "The UN panel described the war crimes as a "grave assault" on the entire regime of international law."

What can I say instead of "grave assault"?

Alternatives to "grave assault" include "serious attack", "severe aggression", or "major transgression" depending on the specific context and the aspect you wish to emphasize.

Is "grave assault" a formal term?

Yes, "grave assault" is a relatively formal term often used in legal, ethical, or official contexts to describe a serious violation or offense. Other alternatives, like the word "attack", might be suited for informal communication.

What's the difference between "grave assault" and "serious assault"?

"Grave assault" implies a deeper and more profound violation than "serious assault". While both indicate a significant offense, "grave assault" suggests a violation of fundamental principles or laws with far-reaching consequences.