About The Word Assail

Bay Area Crosswords

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Assail

Assail Meaning & Definition
Assail Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Assail?

[v] attack verbally, in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
[v] launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities with, as in warfare; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"
[v] attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"

Synonyms | Synonyms for Assail: assault | assault | attack | attack | lash out | round | set on | snipe

Related Terms | Find terms related to Assail: ambush | assault | attack | blister | blitz | bushwhack | castigate | censure | come at | come down on | crack down on | criminate | cry out against | cry out on | cry shame upon | descend on | descend upon | excoriate | fall on | fall upon | flay | fustigate | gang up on | go at | go for | harry | have at | hit | hit like lightning | implicate | impugn | incriminate | inculpate | involve | jump | land on | lash | lay at | lay hands on | lay into | light into | mug | pitch into | pounce upon | pound | roast | sail into | scarify | scathe | scorch | set on | set upon | skin alive | slash | strike | surprise | swoop down on | take the offensive | trounce | wade into

See Also | abuse | bait | barrage | beleaguer | beset | besiege | blackguard | blister | blitz | bomb | bombard | bulldog | bust | cannonade | circumvent | clapperclaw | claw | counterattack | counterstrike | criticise | criticize | desecrate | dishonor | dishonour | fight | gas | hem in | hit | invade | jump | molest | occupy | outrage | pelt | pepper | pick apart | profane | raid | rape | ravish | reassail | rip | rubbish | rush | savage | set | set upon | shout | sic | storm | strike | struggle | submarine | surprise | surround | torpedo | violate | vitriol | whang | whip

Assail In Webster's Dictionary

\As*sail"\ ([a^]s*s[=a]l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Assailed} (-s[=a]ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Assailing}.] [OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir; a (L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap, spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See {Sally}.] 1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. No rude noise mine ears assailing. --Cowper. No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. --Keble. 2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like. The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. --Pope. 3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like. The papal authority . . . assailed. --Hallam. They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony. --Macaulay. Syn: To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See {Attack}.

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