assails

verb

present tense third-person singular of assail
1
as in attacks
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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2
as in assaults
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 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 assails The war in Gaza has become a dividing line between the two candidates, both of whom are Jewish, as Lander assails Goldman for not being tough enough on Israel over its military action against Palestinians. — Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 23 June 2026 As an example, Vance called out an essay in The Nation that assails Kirk’s views on women, homosexuality, and affirmative action. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assails
  1. attacks
  2. assaults
  3. slams
  4. raids
  5. scolds
  6. strikes
  7. criticizes
  8. robs
Verb
  • Meanwhile, donning night-vision giggles, Knoxville gleefully attacks them with trash can lids and tasers.
    — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Yellow-legged hornets, an invasive species that attacks honeybee colonies, have been spotted in North Carolina for the first time.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of attacks
Verb
  • Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
    — Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 June 2026
  • Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
Definition of assaults
Verb
  • Or father, for that matter, especially after Sebastiano repeatedly slams his son’s head against a sink.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This is happening as a demographic shift to an older, grayer population slams Colorado.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
Definition of slams
Verb
  • In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
  • In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 June 2026
Definition of raids
Verb
  • The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In the beginning, Piker wanted to show young men that leftists could be fun — not just woke social-justice warriors and PC scolds.
    — Josh Eells, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of scolds
Verb
  • After another two minutes of dangerous Machado Garry strikes, Makhachev deftly tripped the challenger and quickly scrambled to take Machado Garry’s back, where Makhachev stayed stapled until the horn sounded and Silva’s record was rewritten.
    — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Medium heat strikes the perfect balance of drying quickly but maintaining towel softness.
    — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of strikes
Verb
  • Summary Digital forensics expert Brett Shavers criticizes how non-practitioners increasingly dictate digital investigation processes, prioritizing administrative metrics over field realities.
    — Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Arendt criticizes these men but never says that the Jews were responsible for their own destruction.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of criticizes
Verb
  • Parkinson’s is a neurologic disease that robs people of control over their movements.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • Blending in is the name of a dire game that robs us of what ought to be our value to others and ourselves.
    — Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
Definition of robs

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Cite this Entry

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

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Nglish: Translation of assails for Spanish Speakers

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