English verb: assail | |||
1. | assail (competition) attack someone physically or emotionally | ||
Samples | The mugger assaulted the woman. Nightmares assailed him regularly. | ||
Synonyms | assault, attack, set on | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | assault, bait, beset, blindside, bulldog, desecrate, dishonor, dishonour, jump, molest, outrage, outrage, profane, rape, ravish, reassail, rush, savage, set, set upon, sic, violate, violate | ||
2. | assail (competition) launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with | ||
Samples | Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II. Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week. | ||
Synonyms | attack | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | contend, fight, struggle | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | beleaguer, besiege, blitz, bomb, bombard, bust, cannonade, circumvent, counterattack, counterstrike, gas, hem in, hit, invade, occupy, pelt, pepper, raid, storm, strafe, strike, submarine, surprise, surround, torpedo | ||
Verb group | aggress, attack | ||
Antonyms | defend | ||
3. | assail (communication) attack in speech or writing | ||
Samples | The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker. | ||
Synonyms | assault, attack, lash out, round, snipe | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | criticise, criticize, knock, pick apart | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | abuse, barrage, blackguard, blister, bombard, clapperclaw, claw, rip, rubbish, scald, shout, vitriol, whang, whip | ||