ASSAIL Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'assail' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assail are assault , attack , bombard , and storm . While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots. // assailed the enemy with artillery fire

Q: When is it sensible to use 'assault' instead of 'assail'?

The words assault and assail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught. // commandos assaulted the building from all sides

Q: When can 'attack' be used instead of 'assail'?

In some situations, the words attack and assail are roughly equivalent. However, attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle. // plan to attack the town at dawn

Q: When is 'bombard' a more appropriate choice than 'assail'?

The words bombard and assail can be used in similar contexts, but bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells. // bombarded the city nightly

Q: When could 'storm' be used to replace 'assail'?

The synonyms storm and assail are sometimes interchangeable, but storm implies attempting to break into a defended position. // preparing to storm the fortress

assail

verb

ə-ˈsāl

Definition of assail

as in to attack

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to assault

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb assail contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assail are assault, attack, bombard, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When is it sensible to use assault instead of assail?

The words assault and assail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When can attack be used instead of assail?

In some situations, the words attack and assail are roughly equivalent. However, attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When is bombard a more appropriate choice than assail?

The words bombard and assail can be used in similar contexts, but bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When could storm be used to replace assail?

The synonyms storm and assail are sometimes interchangeable, but storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

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 assail Predecessor Justin Trudeau's government had assailed Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, spurring a five-year diplomatic split. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Kalshi and Polymarket, which have been assailed by critics for encouraging financial risk taking by making betting more accessible, are now using the promise of free groceries to win over New Yorkers. — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026 And yet 20 years ago, the haka’s future was in doubt — assailed by protests from rival teams that New Zealand gained an unfair advantage from performing it as the final action before kick-off in a Test match. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Kennedy’s post also assailed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who has criticized Kennedy’s anti-vaccine rhetoric and activism. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assail

Verb

Egypt's president sought to reassure the public that the country wouldn't attack Yemen, and that the military support is limited to defending Saudi territory.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Back in 2023, Stevens revealed he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves—and was working to relearn how to walk and use his hands.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

Becerril had been assaulted before his body was placed in the trunk, according to the CHP.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The women, who don't know each other, allege they were assaulted by Brand between 1999 and 2009 in locations including workplaces, a hotel room and a bathroom at a bar.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of assault

Verb

The familyâs legal team filed complaints targeting Iranian officials who bankrolled Hamas, slamming the ICC for double standards and demanding arrest warrants for the regime bosses backing the atrocity.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
On June 24, Matis blew through a stop sign and slammed into a home on the 2900 block of Southwest 57th Avenue, where Bezy was sleeping.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of slam

Verb

Thrifting, attending clothing swaps and raiding friends' and family members' closets are all ways to avoid buying new costumes.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Thieves raided a jewelry store in a crash-and-grab burglary in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood early Tuesday morning.

— Desiree Evans, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of raid

Verb

Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police.

— ELITSA GADEVA, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Republicans stormed to their first majority in the House (54 seats net) in 40 years and recaptured the Senate with eight new seats there as well.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of storm

Browse Nearby Words

ass

assail

assailable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Assail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assail. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of assail

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes