assail

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb assail contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assail are assault, attack, bombard, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When is it sensible to use assault instead of assail?

The words assault and assail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When can attack be used instead of assail?

In some situations, the words attack and assail are roughly equivalent. However, attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When is bombard a more appropriate choice than assail?

The words bombard and assail can be used in similar contexts, but bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When could storm be used to replace assail?

The synonyms storm and assail are sometimes interchangeable, but storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of assail 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 The first seven months of his second term went by without much focus on the issue until earlier this month, when a Department of Government Efficiency staffer was assailed by several juveniles. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for assail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assail
Verb
  • Her ex and his friends attacked him with a baseball bat and tried to shove him in a washing machine at one of his dad’s laundromats.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
  • As the first crews began attacking the fire from inside the building, other crews were called in to make sure no one was inside.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Moroccan Association for Human Rights said dozens were arrested on Saturday, including some who were physically assaulted.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Brown, who also faces separate charges of assaulting a federal officer, remains in custody without bond, while Samane was released on $5,000 bond.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Miss Sammie flashed the scolding look Jean had known since childhood, though playfully now.
    David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Chun also scolded attorneys for Amazon in July for withholding thousands of documents from the FTC and abusing a legal privilege to shield them from scrutiny.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The singer has been vocal about foregoing tour stops in the US, citing fears that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would raid the concert venues.
    Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The episode sees Marge revisit her nostalgia for a Dawson's Creek-esque '90s teen drama as Lisa raids her mom's closet for vintage threads with the help of fashion-forward classmates Devin (Cole Escola) and Vidalia (Stephanie Hsu).
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Attorneys slam facility conditions Immigration enforcement processing centers are only supposed to hold people for 72 hours or less, according to Long.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The charging bear slams against the car as the door closes, swiping at the space where the man's head was moments before.
    Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • One person was charged for shining a laser in the eyes of ICE agents, another for throwing a smoke grenade at ICE officers and a third for attempting to damage equipment at the facility and then striking and kicking officers while being arrested.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • This, too, struck Baker as strange.
    Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Kyle storms off and vows to find whoever is responsible.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
  • And just when fans thought he was done, McIlroy stormed back to win the Irish Open, proving his form.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Wahlberg, 54, plays a professional thief who recruits a new team in an attempt to rob a treasure recently recovered from the depths of the ocean.
    Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The man tried to rob him, causing a scuffle that ended with Zeek shot, lying on the ground, dialing 911.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Assail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assail. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

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