ASSAILED Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

assailed

verb

past tense of assail

as in attacked

to criticize harshly and usually publicly the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in assaulted

to take sudden, violent action against the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest

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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 assailed Election officials and experts assailed the review, done by the security firm Cyber Ninjas—which made claims about the election process that were disputed by state and county election officials—as deeply flawed and partisan. —

Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026 California law restricts when local enforcement can coordinate with ICE in making such arrests, and federal officials and Republicans have assailed the policy for hindering immigration enforcement. —

Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026 In announcing the Pentagon’s agreement with Scouting America, the defense secretary assailed the group for welcoming transgender children but stopped short of saying they would be denied entry. —

Tara Copp, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026 Ekulona’s Julie is assailed as much by Hedda’s slights as by her indifference. —

Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026 Alongside Palasciano, speakers assailed the influx of Indian Americans, from accusing them of snatching the American Dream to criticizing their driving skills and even blaming them for traffic. —

Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026 Emotions were hot during a House Judiciary Committee hearing this past week where Bondi was assailed by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, who accused the Justice Department of redacting the names of multiple men for political reasons. —

Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026 Trump chose Powell to lead the Fed in 2017 but this year has relentlessly assailed him for not cutting interest rates quickly enough. —

Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026 Trump picked Powell to lead the Fed in 2017 but has been relentlessly assailed him for not cutting interest rates quickly enough. —

Matt Ott, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assailed

Verb

Commercial traffic through the maritime chokepoint has virtually ceased since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, with Iran vowing to strike any vessels associated with the two countries or their partners.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Since the United States and Israel attacked Iran more than two weeks ago, Tehran has regularly fired on Israel, American bases in the region, and Gulf Arab countries’ energy infrastructure with drones and missiles.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026