1
as in attacking
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 assaulting
to take sudden, violent action against
the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assailing
Trump has singled out Moore for criticism, blaming him for a Potomac sewage spill, assailing his handing of Baltimore's bridge collapse and invoking a controversy over his military record.
—
Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Horvath, 43, has been one of the mayor’s most outspoken critics over the past year, assailing her record on homelessness and last year’s Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
In 1495 Columbus retaliated by assailing Taíno villages and capturing chiefs.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Horvath, 43, has been one of the mayor’s most outspoken critics over the past year, assailing her record on homelessness and last year’s Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
In 1495 Columbus retaliated by assailing Taíno villages and capturing chiefs.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assailing
Verb
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The fight marks Strickland’s first bout since he was suspended from the UFC in July 2025 for attacking another fighter while working as a cornerman during an event.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
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The Best New Artist nominees have been attacking beauty from all fronts as of late.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Similarly, federal prosecutors have lost all five cases accusing protesters of assaulting federal officers that have gone to trial in the Los Angeles area, according to data from the US attorney’s office there as of earlier this month.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Jacobo was previously arrested in June 2024 for allegedly assaulting a female family member and again in November 2025 for assaulting Sanchez, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by The Dallas Morning News.—
Suryatapa Chakraborty,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Allred has been criticized in some circles for publicly slamming Talarico.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
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The Motion Picture Association and, the Human Artistry Campaign issued statements last week slamming ByteDance.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday, the PDF retaliated by raiding positions held by the MNRA.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
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But is raiding your retirement for a home purchase a financially sound idea?—
Becca Stanek,
TheWeek,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After straddling a gate in Run 2 of the slalom in Bormio, an emotional Atle Lie McGrath of Norway chucked his ski poles and laid down in the snow after storming off the Stelvio course.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
16 Feb. 2026
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Lucas on $50,000 fine for court storming The ACC fined UM $50,000 as punishment for its fans storming the court after the win over UNC.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Assailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assailing. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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