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assail
[ uh-seyl ]
verb (used with object)
- to attack vigorously or violently; assault.
- to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse, etc.:
to assail one's opponent with slander.
- to undertake with the purpose of mastering:
He assailed his studies with new determination.
- to impinge upon; make an impact on; beset:
His mind was assailed by conflicting arguments.
The light assailed their eyes.
assail
/ əˈseɪl /
verb
- to attack violently; assault
- to criticize or ridicule vehemently, as in argument
- to beset or disturb
his mind was assailed by doubts
- to encounter with the intention of mastering
to assail a problem
to assail a difficult mountain ridge
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Derived Forms
- asˈsailable, adjective
- asˈsailer, noun
- asˈsailment, noun
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Other Words From
- as·saila·ble adjective
- as·saila·ble·ness noun
- as·sailer noun
- as·sailment noun
- unas·sailed adjective
- unas·sailing adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of assail1
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Synonym Study
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Example Sentences
Politics seems to assail Carvalho, forcing him to take up former cudgels and defend his corner.
The only group that it was okay to assail, she says, was liberals.
Days later, Al Gore suddenly surfaced after months of silence to assail President Obama for his failure to lead on climate change.
She felt the temptation assail her, as of late it had been assailing her faintly, to explore this territory.
The bishop and his episcopals can not be hair-brained enough to seek to restore old conditions and assail our liberty.
They did not understand this manouvre, and supposed it to signify that the lieutenant did not deem it prudent to assail them.
Without waiting for them to assail him, the youth dashed forward like a panther at bay.
If he wheeled about to assail the buck he was without a single weapon, while the Sioux was doubly armed.
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