Assail (Verb)
Meaning 1
Launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week".
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
- Strafe
- Torpedo
- Counterattack
- Hem In
- Circumvent
- Strike
- Blitz
- Cannonade
- Besiege
- Raid
- Submarine
- Gas
- Surround
- Invade
- Bombard
- Storm
- Pepper
Related Words
Meaning 2
Attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly".
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The politician's opponent did not hold back, choosing to assail her in the final debate with a flurry of pointed questions.
- In his scathing review, the infamous critic did not hesitate to assail the young playwright's debut.
- As expected, the representative used her speaking time to assail the new tax legislation.
- The activists did not disappoint, going on to assail the corporation's questionable business practices in their fiery statement.
- To secure her party's base, the charismatic leader decided to assail her opponent's record on key social issues.