assail

Meaning

To attack with harsh words or violent force (also figuratively).

Synonyms

attack

👊

assault

fall upon

set on

rip

invade

besiege

lash out

aggress

strafe

strike

beset

raid

round

set upon

lay into

rush upon

bombard

shower

🚿

snipe

charge

overwhelm

encroach

engage

entice

faint

fall on

fight

flirt

😘

flood out

get

hit

hunt down

hurtle

infiltrate

inflict

insult

lay hands on

mob

offend

outrage

overcome

overpower

pass out

press

rush

scold

shock

⚡

slight

stick up

storm

suffuse

swoon

swoop

come at

fight hand to hand

turn on

vituperate

whang

woo

go towards

lace into

swoop down on

tear into

rush on

make an assault

slam-bang

abuse

begin battle with

advance towards

have at

over-power

accost

lash out b snipe

advance

affect

afflict

affront

asperse

b

b

beat

beat up

beleaguer

blackguard

bulldog

come down

commit aggression

conquer

court

defame

defy

denounce

destroy

encircle

encounter

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈseɪl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: assailen

In summary

From Middle English assailen, from Old French assaillir, assalir, from Late Latin assalīre, from Latin ad (“at, towards”) + salīre (“jump”). See also assault.