1
as in attacking
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 assaulting
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 assailing
In 1495 Columbus retaliated by assailing Taíno villages and capturing chiefs.
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Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assailing
Verb
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Obstructing, impeding, or attacking federal law enforcement is a federal crime.—
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What now is the difference between the United States attacking Venezuela in order to install new leadership and Russia invading Ukraine to effect annexation and leadership change?—
Verb
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The suspect was later federally charged with assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.—
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She was charged with assaulting a federal officer, but federal prosecutors later dismissed the case after security camera video and body camera footage emerged showing a Border Patrol agent steering his vehicle into Martinez’s truck.—
Verb
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Bystander video footage that has since gone viral captured a masked federal agent fire multiple shots into Good's vehicle, which then drove up the street before slamming into the back of another car.—
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Convenience store owners are slamming the proposal as restrictive and unnecessary.—
Verb
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People were raiding stores and so forth.—
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The biggest compliment is that teams are raiding Brentford.—
Verb
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Really storming winds were coming, and during the whole shooting, this stormy wind never stops.—
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But the Bills have won three straight road games, pummeling the Pittsburgh Steelers, storming back to beat the New England Patriots and holding on against the Cleveland Browns.—
Cite this Entry
“Assailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assailing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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