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

Bass assailed Raman over the video, accusing the councilmember of calling the city’s police officers fascist liars. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Hundreds of diplomats filed out as Netanyahu approached the lectern from where leaders of France, Brazil, and the UK assailed Israel this week. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Predecessor Justin Trudeau's government had assailed Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, spurring a five-year diplomatic split. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Kalshi and Polymarket, which have been assailed by critics for encouraging financial risk taking by making betting more accessible, are now using the promise of free groceries to win over New Yorkers. — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

And yet 20 years ago, the haka’s future was in doubt — assailed by protests from rival teams that New Zealand gained an unfair advantage from performing it as the final action before kick-off in a Test match. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Kennedy’s post also assailed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who has criticized Kennedy’s anti-vaccine rhetoric and activism. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 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