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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
Other Word Forms
- assailable adjective
- assailableness noun
- assailer noun
- assailment noun
- unassailed adjective
- unassailing adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of assail1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Or a disgruntled independent when he assails a Democratic establishment that’s become, as he sees it, “a club of insiders who take care of each other” and mostly go along to get along.
Whenever ministers defend the status quo in the House of Commons, they are assailed on all sides by MPs calling for recognition.
The sculpture has long sparked polemics: While adherents of the left generally applauded it, and some visitors would leave flowers, critics assailed the artwork as a tasteless shrine to a bloody communist dictatorship.
On social media, where commentators both applauded and assailed the protests, the U.S.
The mayor, appearing before reporters at City Hall, assailed federal agents for “randomly grabbing people” off the street, “chasing Angelenos through parking lots” and arresting immigrants who showed up at court for annual check-ins.
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