assail

/ə'seil/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
assail

The editorial assailed the new policy in strong terms.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To attack violently, either physically or with words: To make a strong, forceful, and often repeated attack against someone or something. This can involve physical violence, harsh criticism, or aggressive questioning.
    • To be troubled or beset persistently by something negative: To be affected strongly and repeatedly by unpleasant thoughts, feelings, or experiences.
Examples of Usage
  • Verb:
    • The politician was assailed by reporters as soon as he left the building. (He was aggressively questioned by many reporters.)
    • The castle was assailed by enemy forces for weeks. (The castle was attacked violently and repeatedly by enemy soldiers.)
    • Doubts assailed her mind as she waited for the results. (She was troubled by many persistent doubts.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to assail someone with something": To overwhelm or bombard someone aggressively with something (e.g., questions, insults, requests).
    • The celebrity was assailed with requests for autographs.
  • "to be assailed by doubts/fears/memories": To be troubled or haunted by persistent negative thoughts or feelings.
    • He was assailed by memories of the accident.
Variants and Related Words
  • Assailant (noun): A person who physically attacks another.
    • The victim could not identify her assailant.
  • Assailable (adjective): Vulnerable to attack.
    • The fort's weak walls made it assailable.
  • Unassailable (adjective): Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated.
    • Her logic was unassailable.
Synonyms
  • Attack: To act against someone or something with force or hostility.
  • Assault: To make a physical attack upon.
  • Berate: To scold or criticize angrily.
  • Beset: To trouble or harass persistently.
  • Bombard: To attack continuously with questions, criticisms, or information.
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Assail" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically conveyed by the verb itself or through the prepositional phrase "assail with.")

Related Idioms
  • "To come under assail": To be subjected to attack or criticism. (A less common variant of "to come under attack").
    • The government's policy came under fierce assail from the opposition.
assail

The editorial assailed the new policy in strong terms.

Verb
  1. attack in speech or writing
    • The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
  2. launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
    • Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II
    • Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week
  3. attack someone physically or emotionally
    • The mugger assaulted the woman
    • Nightmares assailed him regularly

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ trái nghĩa

Từ gần giống

Từ chứa "assail"

Từ có nhắc đến "assail"