1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to assault
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 assail
And a victory in the sixth-largest state would continue to provide him a credible, high-profile platform from which to assail the actions of the Trump administration nationally in the run-up to the 2028 presidential election.
—
Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
Their grief and their rage are nearly untranslatable, as though feelings in extremity can only be physical sensations—the language assails one with a blind and blunt force.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Trump has portrayed the legal reprieves as the unraveling of an era of political prosecutions steered by former President Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ), which Trump assailed as weaponized against him while marred by his own legal troubles.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 1 Feb. 2025
Thomas wrote a dissenting opinion, to which Alito also attached his name, and assailed the court majority for refusing to hear Alabama's case.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assail
Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
Their grief and their rage are nearly untranslatable, as though feelings in extremity can only be physical sensations—the language assails one with a blind and blunt force.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Trump has portrayed the legal reprieves as the unraveling of an era of political prosecutions steered by former President Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ), which Trump assailed as weaponized against him while marred by his own legal troubles.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 1 Feb. 2025
Thomas wrote a dissenting opinion, to which Alito also attached his name, and assailed the court majority for refusing to hear Alabama's case.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assail
Verb
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Every American should reject the president's and his cronies' illegitimate use of government power to attack his enemies.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Korematsu was just 22 years old and working hard to expand his family’s flower nursery outside San Francisco when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.—
Lauren Stienstra,
Time,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Uber has said the driver gave them a different version of events, saying the driver claimed the two riders fought in the back of his car and assaulted him at the end of the trip.—
Annabella Rosciglione,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Apr. 2025
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Warhorse bandmates drummer Tre Cool and bassist Mike Dirnt assaulted their instruments with their trademark goofiness and aggression, with three other touring members helping fill the massive venue with a legion of guitars and keys.—
Jeff Miller,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The White House was reprimanded: A federal judge scolded the Trump administration for failing to try to return the man.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
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At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt scolded reporters for not understanding the president’s plans.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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A little less than a month after the meeting, the FBI raided the offices of Feeding Our Future.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2025
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Getty Images — Erin Doherty 23 Hours Ago Tech, finance leaders reportedly visiting Trump to ‘talk common sense’ on tariffs An aerial view of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home after Trump said that FBI agents raided it, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. August 15, 2022.—
Erin Doherty,Annika Kim Constantino,Yun Li,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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During their drive back to the house, Leo slams on the brakes.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
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Paxton and Cornyn have traded barbs back and forth for years, with the attorney general slamming Cornyn’s votes in favor of additional U.S. aid to Ukraine and bipartisan legislation on gun safety following the 2022 Uvalde school shooting.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Still, Reising said, the increasing occurrence of extreme and unpredictable weather events, like floods and droughts, could strike at any moment and erase those benefits.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Her latest launch is a wall paint collection, and the colors are striking.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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After Cooper Flagg knocked down a pair of free throws at the 11:54 mark to give the Blue Devils a 56-42 lead, Houston stormed back with a relentless 28-11 run to complete a stunning rally and punch their ticket to the title game.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
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Opposition lawmakers have accused Yoon of inciting his most extreme followers to violence, after a pro-Yoon mob stormed and defaced the courthouse that issued his arrest warrant in January.—
Max Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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An extremely rare inflammatory condition in his blood vessels caused several blood clots to form on both sides of his head, placing him in a coma and robbing him of the ability to speak, walk and eat.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
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Their righteous scores soon turn dangerous when the pair end up robbing the wrong house to one of the biggest and secretive narcotics operations on the East coast.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assail. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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