Synonyms of assailing

assailing

verb

present participle of assail

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

• attacking
• slamming
• scolding
• criticizing
• blasting
• abusing
• savaging
• excoriating
• insulting
• lambasting
• castigating
• scathing
• bashing
• cursing
• trashing
• harassing
• jumping (on)
• tying into
• berating
• belaboring
• sailing into
• reviling
• vituperating
• haranguing
• potshotting
• harrying
• reprimanding
• blaspheming
• affronting
• disparaging
• belittling
• vilifying
• execrating
• slandering
• chiding
• beating up on
• whipping
• lighting into
• profaning
• chastising
• libeling
• slurring
• traducing
• rebuking
• fulminating
• imprecating
• bad-mouthing
• lacing (into)
• aspersing
• blackguarding
• lashing (out)
• putting down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praising
• commending
• hailing
• complimenting
• lauding
• acclaiming

2

as in assaulting

to take sudden, violent action against

the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attacking
• assaulting
• raiding
• storming
• striking
• ambushing
• robbing
• charging
• invading
• besetting
• rushing
• swarming
• turning (on)
• trashing
• siccing
• descending (on or upon)
• jumping (on)
• going in (on)
• flying at
• setting on
• setting at
• going at
• setting upon
• pouncing (on or upon)
• tearing into
• bushwhacking
• pitching into
• besieging
• bombarding
• beating up on
• waylaying
• flanking
• sacking
• rounding on
• surprising
• ravaging
• barraging
• plundering
• battering
• mobbing
• lighting into
• blitzing
• bombing
• nuking
• buffeting
• mugging
• harrying
• beleaguering
• ganging up (on)
• pillaging
• cannonading
• looting
• enveloping
• bum-rushing
• overrunning
• cannoning
• plastering
• ambuscading
• pressing
• banging away (at)
• foraying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protecting
• covering
• defending
• securing
• guarding
• shielding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of assailing

But the candidate started paying real attention to social strategy after a video compilation of his stump speeches assailing his then opponent, David Perdue, went viral on TikTok. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

In a process known as autotomy, the assailing bee leaves its stinger operating independently, driven by its own muscles, various glands, neural ganglia, and a venom sac. — Mike McRae 12, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026

The German leader countered that the far-right party won't win a majority in the country, assailing its stance toward Ukraine and rhetoric on migration. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

The German leader countered that the far-right party won’t win a majority in the country, assailing its stance toward Ukraine and rhetoric on migration. — Geir Moulson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

The race partly revolved around the war in Gaza, with Lander assailing Goldman for not being critical enough of Israel. — Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 24 June 2026

Rabb was propelled by a constellation of progressive groups, charting a path to victory partly by assailing his own party as listening more to donors than voters. — CBS News, 24 May 2026

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

In 1495 Columbus retaliated by assailing Taíno villages and capturing chiefs. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025