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
Soon after, they are assailed by terrible things one after another.
—
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Orlando Sentinel Bondi’s conduct was assailed last week in a 23-page ethics complaint filed with the Bar by more than 70 prominent lawyers and professors, including two former Florida Supreme Court justices and a former president of the American Bar Association.
—The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
At a minimum, the explosion of animosity between the two powerful men could complicate the path forward for Republicans’ massive tax and border spending legislation that has been promoted by Trump but assailed by Musk.
—Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
Critics and colleagues assailed the anchor for his persistent questioning of Coates, whose latest book criticized Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for assail
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Orlando Sentinel Bondi’s conduct was assailed last week in a 23-page ethics complaint filed with the Bar by more than 70 prominent lawyers and professors, including two former Florida Supreme Court justices and a former president of the American Bar Association.
—The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
At a minimum, the explosion of animosity between the two powerful men could complicate the path forward for Republicans’ massive tax and border spending legislation that has been promoted by Trump but assailed by Musk.
—Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
Critics and colleagues assailed the anchor for his persistent questioning of Coates, whose latest book criticized Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for assail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assail
Verb
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Advertisement Huckabee also visited the Christian community of Taybeh in the West Bank on Saturday after a church was reportedly attacked and vandalized by Israeli settlers.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
22 July 2025
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In June, a woman defaced a Pilsen mural at 16th Street and Ashland Avenue and was accused of attacking another woman who tried to stop her.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Two 32-year-old men were assaulted and left with minor injuries.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
21 July 2025
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After the vehicle became disabled, bystanders in the crowd dragged the driver outside the car and began to physically assault them, according to police.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
19 July 2025
Verb
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Whether this comes off as a joke or as an invitation for scolding (spoken or unspoken, loving or otherwise) depends entirely on the other Muslims in the room.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
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But there was a time Emily Deschanel, who played the meticulous forensic anthropologist through 12 seasons of Bones, got scolded for being just that — and the memory still makes the star emotional.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
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Federal agents raided four Colt Grill restaurant locations in Yavapai County and one in Foley, Alabama.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
19 July 2025
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Doyle and Dixon's homes have also been raided, WBRZ reported.—
Kerry Breen
July 16,
CBS News,
16 July 2025
Verb
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Economic Trends First time and affordable home buyers are getting slammed.—
Jamie Gold,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Fourteen people died when a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad mail train slammed into the rear of a passenger train stopped for a signal in Western Springs.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
14 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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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
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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
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 29 Jul. 2025.
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