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

Raman also assailed Bass over the fire, the worst in the city’s history. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

In the years following the departure of Ailes, many critics further assailed the network for eroding any line between news reporting and commentary and political advocacy. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026

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

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