1
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to assault
to take sudden, violent action against
the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assail
The sheriff and her legal team have repeatedly assailed Cordell’s report, commissioning their own review by former Riverside County Superior Court Judge Burke Strunsky, who criticized Cordell’s reliance on anonymous sources and unrecorded interviews.
—
Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Staci Ibarra, another warden who left the department in May — after she was put on administrative leave in the wake of an inmate’s death — assailed a practice in which maximum security inmates had their classification downgraded.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Republicans historically have assailed federal efforts under Democrats to pick winners and losers in the broader economy.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 26 Aug. 2025
Shildt assailed the logic of the folks at Major League Baseball’s Replay Command Center in New York City.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assail
Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Staci Ibarra, another warden who left the department in May — after she was put on administrative leave in the wake of an inmate’s death — assailed a practice in which maximum security inmates had their classification downgraded.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Republicans historically have assailed federal efforts under Democrats to pick winners and losers in the broader economy.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 26 Aug. 2025
Shildt assailed the logic of the folks at Major League Baseball’s Replay Command Center in New York City.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assail
Verb
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Vinicius Jr also thrived in the Italian’s counter-attacking tactical setup, which was designed at least in part to suit his pace and direct running, and delivered the club’s two most recent Champions League trophies in 2022 and 2024.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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The only thing that carries any water is making up something to attack Gretchen.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Early on, federal agents guarding the building deployed tear gas and shot pepper balls in clashes with protesters and arrested some of them, including some charged with felonies on suspicion of assaulting or blocking officers.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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At one point, the seventh-grader was assaulted, leaving bruises.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Once the truck begins driving straight, the beige SUV speeds up and slams into the truck’s back-left side.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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Back in 1961, residents of Capitola woke up to find that hordes of black seabirds were slamming into cars, windows and people's homes and dying.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The thieves raided the Apollo Gallery on the Louvre’s upper floor, which houses the French crown jewels, on October 19.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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In 1917, during WWI, a German newspaper in Cincinnati was raided by the US government.—
Carl Weiser,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This came after Nick Saban jokingly scolded himself for not fielding Sayin during their weeks-long overlap in 2023’s postseason at Alabama.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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This way of peering at screen culture from an inexact distance, which also comes up in a scolding scene where Ethan scrolls aimlessly through something like TikTok, rankles in a play that is otherwise so precise about physical time and space.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Women’s CrossCity Sneaker While famous for its athleisure apparel, Lululemon has quietly expanded into the realm of sneakers—and this lightweight pair strikes the perfect balance of stylish and comfortable for long days of sightseeing.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
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The mob of rioters grew more hostile and violent, advancing toward agents and began throwing rocks and other objects at agents, including one that struck Chief Greg Bovino in the head.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Stines, 44, was allegedly caught on security video storming into Mullins’ chambers before shooting him in an alleged courthouse ambush that rattled the Appalachian community.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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Both personalities were on full display on Tuesday, when the B’s stormed back from 2-0 deficit with five unanswered goals to beat the New York Islanders, 5-2, at the Garden.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But these criminals weren't robbing the Louvre museum in Paris.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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The rigidity that had robbed her of movement began to ease off.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assail. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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