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 Britain is not the only U.S. ally Musk has assailed publicly in recent weeks. —

Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 25 Nov. 2024 President-elect Donald Trump’s appointees to run the nation’s health agencies have been assailed by Democratic lawmakers for their embrace of unproven medical theories, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine skepticism. —

Bloomberg, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for assail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assail

Verb

Defensive vulnerabilities highlight areas on the field where offenses might be able to attack in the passing game.

Joe Reedy, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
Based on open-source evidence and the man’s own social-media content, the group traced him to a brigade in Gaza that had attacked residential areas, religious sites, markets, and schools where civilians were present.

Annie Hylton, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025