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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assailed
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
Some Republicans have assailed the agency as overregulating industry.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
In the final days of his presidency, Joe Biden was similarly assailed for granting a broad pardon to his son Hunter for any offenses committed over the span of more than a decade—as well as for preemptively pardoning a swath of other members of his family and administration.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
DeSantis has continued his call to slash property taxes in the state, a proposal that Democrats have assailed as an unnecessary move that could threaten the delivery of basic local services.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
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
Some Republicans have assailed the agency as overregulating industry.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
In the final days of his presidency, Joe Biden was similarly assailed for granting a broad pardon to his son Hunter for any offenses committed over the span of more than a decade—as well as for preemptively pardoning a swath of other members of his family and administration.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
DeSantis has continued his call to slash property taxes in the state, a proposal that Democrats have assailed as an unnecessary move that could threaten the delivery of basic local services.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assailed
Verb
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The ministry said settlers vandalized or attacked 45 mosques in the West Bank last year.—
AREF TUFAHA,
Arkansas Online,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The violence captured on cellphone videos and shared around the globe – buses burning, gas stations attacked, military helicopters flying overhead – wasn’t just happening in remote rural towns long plagued by drug violence.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Reflecting on the case as a mirror to her character’s journey, LaNasa pointed out that Dana never pressed charges against Doug Driscoll, the man who assaulted her.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Responding officers were told by the woman that Driscoll had allegedly assaulted her and taken her two children, police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Panthers forward, 28, dedicated his gold medal to Gaudreau, a Columbus Blue Jackets and fellow national team player, who died cycling in August 2024 when a drunk driver allegedly swerved and slammed into his bicycle.—
Chris Kudialis,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
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Many city Democrats quickly took the position that this showed bad management by Stewart, while Stewart’s defenders slammed the action as a political smear.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Clark left the city in 2020, a year after the FBI raided City Hall as part of the criminal investigation related to the sham lawsuit.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But Andrew’s actions have apparently caught up to him, and with his home and former home being raided as well, there’s a chance that even more stuff could come up against Andrew.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He is being groomed, playing, testing boundaries and even being scolded which are all part of normal social learning for young macaques.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
As the Sentinel’s Cristobal Reyes has reported, federal judges based in Orlando have scolded prosecutors multiple times in recent weeks for detaining people who should have been set free, with one judge memorably comparing the current actions of ICE to those of a third-world country.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fans stormed the court in celebration at the buzzer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Fans stormed the court at Pauley Pavilion in celebration.—
Beth Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Unlike the last time the US and Israel struck Iran, in June, these strikes began in daylight early Saturday morning – the first day of the week in Iran – as millions went to work or school.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
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The Tribune reported Gibbons, who previously traveled with Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa, was the only reporter aboard the vessel when it was struck and began sinking.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assailed. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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