Synonyms of assailed

assailed

verb

past tense of assail

1

as in attacked

to criticize harshly and usually publicly

the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attacked
• slammed
• scolded
• criticized
• blasted
• savaged
• abused
• excoriated
• insulted
• lambasted
• castigated
• scathed
• cursed
• bashed
• jumped (on)
• harassed
• vituperated
• tied into
• trashed
• belabored
• berated
• sailed into
• reprimanded
• harangued
• reviled
• disparaged
• lit into
• potshot
• execrated
• blasphemed
• affronted
• harried
• belittled
• slandered
• beat up on
• vilified
• whipped
• profaned
• rebuked
• chastised
• libeled
• traduced
• slurred
• fulminated
• aspersed
• imprecated
• bad-mouthed
• blackguarded
• lashed (out)
• chid
• laced (into)
• put down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praised
• commended
• hailed
• acclaimed
• complimented
• lauded

2

as in assaulted

to take sudden, violent action against

the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attacked
• assaulted
• raided
• stormed
• struck
• charged
• ambushed
• robbed
• swarmed
• beset
• invaded
• rushed
• turned (on)
• set at
• set on
• descended (on or upon)
• jumped (on)
• trashed
• set upon
• bushwhacked
• went in (on)
• rounded on
• flew at
• went at
• pounced (on or upon)
• sicced
• surprised
• pitched into
• tore into
• besieged
• flanked
• lit into
• mobbed
• sacked
• waylaid
• bombarded
• buffeted
• bombed
• beat up on
• barraged
• blitzed
• plundered
• ravaged
• battered
• cannonaded
• mugged
• beleaguered
• looted
• enveloped
• ganged up (on)
• nuked
• pillaged
• plastered
• harried
• bum-rushed
• overran
• pressed
• ambuscaded
• cannoned
• forayed
• banged away (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• covered
• protected
• secured
• defended
• guarded
• shielded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of assailed

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, whose administration was widely assailed for its desultory initial response, has made high-profile appearances in La Guaira. — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

No two tales of what happened to Maelor after his knight protector was shot dead agree, but the young boy was also slain on the bridge, perhaps torn apart by the mob who assailed him, arguing over what to do with the young prince. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Decades out of practice, Saxberger is assailed by writer’s block and confused by the machinations of a modern-day publishing industry that wants to turn his rediscovery into a branding exercise. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026

Trump has personally assailed justices who rule against him in stark terms. — Gene Johnson, Fortune, 24 July 2026

Even the urologist’s office has athletic jerseys hanging in the treatment room so that men’s masculinity will not be assailed. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 July 2026

Roberts once signed on to a Kagan dissent that assailed the shadow docket. — Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 1 July 2026

Lander has assailed Goldman for accepting AIPAC’s endorsement and for voting to send military aid to Israel, which Lander has vowed to oppose. — Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026

The former increases excitability and preparedness for movement in response to the tennis equivalent of being assailed by a woolly mammoth. — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 3 June 2026