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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of assail
The groups also assailed the total ban on using software to predict behaviors, saying financial institutions use such technology to assess the risk of fraud and other crimes.
—
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 17 June 2025
Published in the German-language Austrian newspaper Kurier, Eastwood is quoted assailing film remakes, franchises and a general lack of original ideas.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 2 June 2025
DeSantis assailed House Health Care Budget Chairman Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican who submitted records to State Attorney Jack Campbell’s office late last month after a House inquiry into the nonprofit Hope Florida Foundation.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Soon after, they are assailed by terrible things one after another.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assail
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 17 June 2025
Published in the German-language Austrian newspaper Kurier, Eastwood is quoted assailing film remakes, franchises and a general lack of original ideas.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 2 June 2025
DeSantis assailed House Health Care Budget Chairman Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican who submitted records to State Attorney Jack Campbell’s office late last month after a House inquiry into the nonprofit Hope Florida Foundation.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Soon after, they are assailed by terrible things one after another.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assail
Verb
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After the match, Uso helped attack Sikoa’s MFTs and Fatu hit a picturesque moonsault off the top of the cage onto Loa and Mateo, getting some momentum back after a controversial defeat.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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Police responded to a call that an individual was being attacked by dogs at the Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino at around 5:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, July 31, KTLA and the Los Angeles Times reported.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The sense of an evolving crisis was most acute around the town of Pokrovsk, unsuccessfully assaulted by Moscow for months at great cost in Russian life.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
31 July 2025
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Ragan was arrested at the scene and admitted to assaulting his grandfather, police said.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
31 July 2025
Verb
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Minutes later, Boone was spotted appearing to scold first-base coach Travis Chapman for Chisholm getting thrown out.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
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But instead of yelling or scolding, Hocker speaks to her daughter gently, and with compassion.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
Verb
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In Oakland, a 35-year-old man was charged with possessing and manufacturing assault weapons, after police raided his home during an online fireworks investigation.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
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But the agency discovered the scheme and found undocumented workers at the company’s site when officials raided it in 2018.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Police slammed one of the women to the ground and swiftly ushered her away in handcuffs.—
Ella McCarthy,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Phase 4 In the fourth stage, the body attempts to slam the brakes on starvation by lowering the metabolic rate - like switching on low-power mode to conserve energy.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Jamie Roy and Sam Heughan aren't related in real life, but the resemblance between the two Outlander stars is striking.—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
26 July 2025
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Six years after tragedy struck and abruptly ended the storied tradition, the festival is back — albeit smaller and in a different setting.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
25 July 2025
Verb
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The relative said female family members who survived the massacre recalled how militants had stormed the family’s multi-story home early in the morning, prompting the residents to fight back in defense.—
Sarah Dewberry,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
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In that way, camp couldn’t be more different than a year ago, before the Broncos stormed to a 10-7 mark and a playoff appearance and nearly doubled the general range of wins that bookmakers pegged them for.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Access to justice too (something often underrated), where you can’t be killed or robbed with impunity, and where you won’t be arbitrarily deprived of your liberty or your freedom of speech by a despotic government.—
Simon Boas
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
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Check out this song parody from last night's show: Mike Johnson Delays House Epstein Vote Until September Julio González Jr., released last week from the Terrorism Confinement Center, said he was beaten, robbed of thousands of dollars and denied a lawyer.—
Bluesky Social,
Bluesky Social,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assail. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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