ASSAILING Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

assailing

verb

present participle of assail

as in attacking

to criticize harshly and usually publicly the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment

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as in assaulting

to take sudden, violent action against the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest

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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 assailing The race partly revolved around the war in Gaza, with Lander assailing Goldman for not being critical enough of Israel. — Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 24 June 2026 Rabb was propelled by a constellation of progressive groups, charting a path to victory partly by assailing his own party as listening more to donors than voters. — CBS News, 24 May 2026 Meanwhile, Ukraine has been assailing oil terminals and refineries deep inside Russia with long-range drones and missiles, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s economy. — ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 Trump has singled out Moore for criticism, blaming him for a Potomac sewage spill, assailing his handing of Baltimore's bridge collapse and invoking a controversy over his military record. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026 Horvath, 43, has been one of the mayor’s most outspoken critics over the past year, assailing her record on homelessness and last year’s Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026 In 1495 Columbus retaliated by assailing Taíno villages and capturing chiefs. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assailing

Verb

So too are there similarities to the Brentford side that came up under Thomas Frank, given their set-piece credentials and attacking variety.

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Fishback has been aggressively attacking Donalds over his politics and his race while holding rallies across the state drawing crowds of young men motivated by his hard-right campaign promises.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacking

Verb

Conviser’s case, which was partially dismissed for lack of standing, accused legendary DePaul softball coach Eugene Lenti of verbally and mentally abusing his athletes and physically assaulting a staffer.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026
The case has also received widespread coverage in the US – including on CNN – where Trump has been assaulting DEI policies.

— Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of assaulting

Verb

The film also depicts Gorbachev as something of a drama queen during the meetings, slamming the table and raising his voice.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
The active tropics comes on the 22nd anniversary of Hurricane Charley slamming into Florida, the beginning of one of the worst hurricane years in the state’s history.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

Police won’t be raiding movie theaters or restaurants in search of juveniles, according to CMPD.

— Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
In September of 2022, Spanish police arrested an Irishman suspected of laundering money for the Kinahan organization after raiding a property in Malaga on the Costa del Sol.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of raiding

Verb

That’s been the story of this third season, one that started with Rhaenyra storming the castle and taking the Iron Throne and then promptly saw her get picked apart by dozens of unforeseen calamities.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Despite a 25% decline in gold from its high in January, proponents of the precious metal are storming into bullish call positions after almost two months of sideways action gives way to a rally Friday following weak jobs data.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of storming

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“Assailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assailing. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of assailing

verb

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