assail
| 1. |
(verb) attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly" |
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Synonyms: assault, attack, set on |
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Related Words: bait, beset, bulldog, desecrate, dishonor, dishonour, jump, molest, outrage, profane, rape, ravish, reassail, rush, set, set upon, sic, violate |
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| 2. |
(verb) launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities with, as in warfare; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week" |
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Synonyms: attack |
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Related Words: beleaguer, besiege, blitz, bomb, bombard, bust, cannonade, circumvent, counterattack, counterstrike, fight, gas, hem in, hit, invade, occupy, pelt, pepper, raid, storm, strike, struggle, surprise, surround, torpedo |
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| 3. |
(verb) attack verbally, in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" |
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Synonyms: assault, attack, lash out, round, snipe |
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Related Words: abuse, barrage, blackguard, blister, clapperclaw, claw, criticise, criticize, pick apart, rubbish, shout, whang, whip |
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