Synonyms

assail

American

[uh-seyl] / əˈseɪl /

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.

Synonyms:

malign, asperse
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 British

/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See attack.

Other Word Forms

assailable adjective
assailableness noun
assailer noun
assailment noun
unassailed adjective
unassailing adjective

Etymology

Origin of assail

1175–1225; Middle English asaylen < Old French asalir < Late Latin assalīre, equivalent to Latin as- as- + salīre to leap, spring

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023