Synonyms for assail
əˈseɪlas·sail

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. assailverb

   To attack is to begin hostilities of any kind. A general invades a country by marching in troops; he attacks a city by drawing up an army against it; he assaults it by hurling his troops directly upon its defenses. Assail and assault, tho of the same original etymology, have diverged in meaning, so that assault alone retains the meaning of direct personal violence. One may assail another with reproaches; he assaults him with a blow, a brandished weapon, etc. Armies or squadrons charge; combat and encounter may be said of individual contests. To beset is to set around, or, so to speak, to stud one's path, with menaces, attacks, or persuasions. To besiege and beleaguer are the acts of armies. To encounter is to meet face to face, and may be said either of the attacking or of the resisting force or person, or of both.

   Synonyms:
   assault, attack, attack, beleaguer, beset, besiege, charge, combat, encounter, fall upon, invade, set upon, storm

   Antonyms:
   aid, befriend, cover, defend, protect, resist, shelter, shield, support, sustain, uphold, withstand

   Preposition:
   We were attacked by the enemy with cannon and musketry.

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. assail, assault, set on, attackverb

   attack someone physically or emotionally

   "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"

   Synonyms:
   violate, set on, lash out, snipe, ravish, round, dishonour, outrage, assault, rape, dishonor, attack, aggress

2. attack, assailverb

   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"

   Synonyms:
   set on, lash out, aggress, round, assault, attack, snipe

3. attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assaultverb

   attack in speech or writing

   "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"

   Synonyms:
   ravish, round out, set on, polish up, rape, violate, round down, polish, snipe, lash out, outrage, fill out, dishonor, round, assault, labialise, brush up, attack, labialize, flesh out, aggress, dishonour, sharpshoot, round off

Matched Categories

1. • Criticize
   • Fight

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. assailverb

   Synonyms:
   assault, attack, invade, oppugn, fall upon, fly at, bear down upon, make aggression on

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. assailverb

   Synonyms:
   attack, assault, oppugn, asperse, defame, vilify, malign

How to pronounce assail?

How to say assail in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use assail in a sentence?

1. John Dryden:

   Roused by the lash of his own stubborn tail our lion now will foreign foes assail.

2. George Bernard Shaw:

   Let a short Act of Parliament be passed, placing all street musicians outside the protection of the law, so that any citizen may assail them with stones, sticks, knives, pistols, or bombs without incurring any penalties.

3. Charlotte Bronte:

   Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last.

4. Charlotte Brontë:

   Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last. To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns.