ASSAIL Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'assail' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assail are assault , attack , bombard , and storm . While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots. // assailed the enemy with artillery fire

Q: When is it sensible to use 'assault' instead of 'assail'?

The words assault and assail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught. // commandos assaulted the building from all sides

Q: When can 'attack' be used instead of 'assail'?

In some situations, the words attack and assail are roughly equivalent. However, attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle. // plan to attack the town at dawn

Q: When is 'bombard' a more appropriate choice than 'assail'?

The words bombard and assail can be used in similar contexts, but bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells. // bombarded the city nightly

Q: When could 'storm' be used to replace 'assail'?

The synonyms storm and assail are sometimes interchangeable, but storm implies attempting to break into a defended position. // preparing to storm the fortress

assail

verb

ə-ˈsāl

Definition of assail next

as in to attack

to criticize harshly and usually publicly the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to assault

to take sudden, violent action against the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb assail contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assail are assault, attack, bombard, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When is it sensible to use assault instead of assail?

The words assault and assail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When can attack be used instead of assail?

In some situations, the words attack and assail are roughly equivalent. However, attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When is bombard a more appropriate choice than assail?

The words bombard and assail can be used in similar contexts, but bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When could storm be used to replace assail?

The synonyms storm and assail are sometimes interchangeable, but storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of assail During his first term, Trump regularly assailed Hunter Biden, and numerous leading Republicans, including his nominees to lead the Justice Department, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, had labeled him a criminal long before the gun and tax convictions. —

Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024 Trump assailed the investigation during his first presidency, fighting a subpoena to the Supreme Court, which in a landmark 2020 decision allowed the office to get Trump's tax returns. —

Graham Kates, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2024 Social media posts assailing immigrants have fomented a climate of fear and hatred in Britain, Portugal and other countries. —

Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2024 Critics here have long assailed Mexican authorities for doing little to assist deportees, who often return to their home communities — many after years residing in the United States — with little guidance for the future and few prospects for employment. —

Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assail

Verb

On that day's episode of SmackDown, Cargill was attacked by an unknown assailant and found injured on top of a car.

Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
The 16-year-old who attacked Elbit Systems used two thermos flasks packed with explosives in an attack on the Israeli defense company and was charged alongside a 23-year-old accomplice, according to Bloomberg.

Louis Casiano, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024