1
as in attacks
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 assaults
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 assails
As an example, Vance called out an essay in The Nation that assails Kirk’s views on women, homosexuality, and affirmative action.
—
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assails
Verb
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Those with the condition do not create enough insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels—because their immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce it.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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If pathogens camouflage themselves successfully, this can lead to a sort of biological friendly fire, in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells, unable to tell the difference between an invading pathogen and what was already there.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Head slams right into the turf.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Oct. 2025
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Build a heavily-armored door that slams shut via a trigger and control panel, and get ready to battle with the rotating turret.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The episode sees Marge revisit her nostalgia for a Dawson's Creek-esque '90s teen drama as Lisa raids her mom's closet for vintage threads with the help of fashion-forward classmates Devin (Cole Escola) and Vidalia (Stephanie Hsu).—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
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Appalachian State’s victory at Michigan in 2007 remains the greatest example of what can happen when a good FCS team walks into your house and raids the fridge, and everything else, but leaves the dog.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Governance scolds are appalled by the number, as is the pope.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Woke scolds and anti-woke dolts alike objected to the image of Carpenter kneeling in front of a man who appears to be using her hair as a leash.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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First, ultraviolet light from the Sun strikes the water-ice rings, as do plasma clouds from meteoroid strikes.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Oct. 2025
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Whoever strikes first between Logan Cooley, Leo Carlsson, Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli, among others, could set the tone for the rest of the 2026 RFA class.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To do so, the country is supporting mass infrastructure projects and the construction of stadiums, priorities that the movement heavily criticizes.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Mamdani criticizes Adams as 'extreme' after mayor exits New York City race.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Circle was the first in a trio of critical-of-the-Establishment films that also includes 2003’s Crimson Gold (about a mentally ill veteran who robs a jewelry store) and 2006’s Offside (in which a group of young women try to sneak into a soccer match).—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
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Diabetic eye disease robs sight from millions.—
Liz Szabo,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After a beat, Eilish is seen yanking herself away and storms off, surrounded by security with an angry scowl on her face.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
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Kyle storms off and vows to find whoever is responsible.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assails. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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