1. (

• assail ,
• assault ,
• set_on ,
• attack ,

) attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly" ;

2. (

• attack ,
• assail ,

) 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 ,
• round ,
• assail ,
• lash_out ,
• snipe ,
• assault

) attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" ;