assail

Verb

Verb Forms: assailed, assailing, assails

To make a concerted or violent attack on something.
attack someone physically or emotionally
- "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
- "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"
attack in speech or writing
To attack with harsh words or violent force (also figuratively).

Examples

Muggers assailed them as they entered an alley.
Our ears were assailed by her joyous efforts on her new saxophone.
She continues to assail the dictionary, looking for any obscure two-letter word.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English assailen, from Old French assaillir, assalir, from Late Latin assalīre, from Latin ad (“at, towards”) + salīre (“jump”). See also assault.

Synonyms

assault, attack, lash out, round, set on, snipe

Antonyms

defend

Scrabble Score: 6

assail: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
assail: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
assail: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

assail: valid Words With Friends Word