Assailing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈsāl/ as·sail

Meaning & Definition of Assailing

Assailing (verb)

  1. to attack violently, assault
  2. to encounter, undertake, or confront energetically
  3. to oppose, challenge, or criticize harshly and forcefully

Assailing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to criticize harshly and usually publicly

    "the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment"

    similar: abusing, attacking, bashing, belaboring, blasting, castigating, excoriating, jumping (on), lambasting, potshotting, savaging, scathing, slamming, trashing, vituperating, beating up on, lighting into, sailing into, tying into
    related: berating, haranguing, harassing, harrying, reviling, scolding, whipping, blaspheming, cursing, execrating, imprecating, profaning, affronting, insulting, slurring, aspersing, bad-mouthing, belittling, blackguarding, disparaging, putting down, libeling, slandering, traducing, vilifying, chastising, chiding, criticizing, lacing (into), rebuking, reprimanding, fulminating, lashing (out)
    near: acclaiming, commending, complimenting, hailing, lauding, praising

  2. to take sudden, violent action against

    "the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest"

    similar: assaulting, attacking, besetting, bushwhacking, charging, descending (on or upon), going in (on), jumping (on), pouncing (on or upon), raiding, rushing, setting on, siccing, storming, striking, trashing, turning (on), beating up on, flying at, going at, lighting into, pitching into, rounding on, setting at, setting upon, tearing into
    related: bum-rushing, ganging up (on), mobbing, swarming, mugging, robbing, ambuscading, ambushing, surprising, waylaying, blitzing, bombarding, bombing, nuking, barraging, cannonading, cannoning, banging away (at), battering, buffeting, plastering, beleaguering, besieging, pressing, harrying, looting, pillaging, plundering, ravaging, sacking, foraying, invading, overrunning, enveloping, flanking
    near: covering, defending, guarding, protecting, securing, shielding

Related Entry: Assail (verb)

Assail is a different word from Assailing. The synonyms below are for assail, not for assailing.

  1. to criticize harshly and usually publicly

    "the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment"

    similar: abuse, attack, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste, potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate, beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into
    related: berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip, blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane, affront, insult, slur, asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down, libel, slander, traduce, vilify, chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, fulminate, lash (out)
    near: acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

  2. to take sudden, violent action against

    "the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest"

    similar: assault, attack, beset, bushwhack, charge, descend (on or upon), go in (on), jump (on), pounce (on or upon), raid, rush, set on, sic, storm, strike, trash, turn (on), beat up on, fly at, go at, light into, pitch into, round on, set at, set upon, tear into
    related: bum-rush, gang up (on), mob, swarm, mug, rob, ambuscade, ambush, surprise, waylay, blitz, bomb, bombard, nuke, barrage, cannon, cannonade, bang away (at), batter, buffet, plaster, beleaguer, besiege, press, harry, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, foray, invade, overrun, envelop, flank
    near: cover, defend, guard, protect, secure, shield

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Assailing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Assailing:

abusing, attacking, bashing, belaboring, blasting, castigating, excoriating, jumping (on), lambasting, potshotting, savaging, scathing, slamming, trashing, vituperating, assaulting, besetting, bushwhacking, charging, descending (on or upon), going in (on), pouncing (on or upon), raiding, rushing, setting on, siccing, storming, striking, turning (on), beating up on, lighting into, sailing into, tying into, flying at, going at, pitching into, rounding on, setting at, setting upon, tearing into

Related Words for Assailing

berating, haranguing, harassing, harrying, reviling, scolding, whipping, blaspheming, cursing, execrating, imprecating, profaning, affronting, insulting, slurring, aspersing, bad-mouthing, belittling, blackguarding, disparaging, putting down, libeling, slandering, traducing, vilifying, chastising, chiding, criticizing, lacing (into), rebuking

Near Antonyms of Assailing

acclaiming, commending, complimenting, hailing, lauding, praising, covering, defending, guarding, protecting, securing, shielding

Word Forms of Assailing

Inflections: assailed, assails

Derived words: assailable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Assailing

Middle English, from Anglo-French assaillir, from Vulgar Latin *assalire, alteration of Latin assilire to leap upon, from ad- + salire to leap sally

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Assailing

What does "Assailing" mean?

"Assailing" means to attack violently, assault. As a verb, it is defined as: to attack violently, assault. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Assailing"?

Other words for "Assailing" include abusing, attacking, bashing, belaboring, blasting, castigating, excoriating and jumping (on). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Assailing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Assailing"?

There are 107 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Assailing". Common alternatives include abusing, attacking, bashing, belaboring, blasting, castigating, excoriating, jumping (on), lambasting and potshotting.

How do you use "Assailing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Assailing" in a sentence: "the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment"; "the small birds assailed the larger one that had threatened their nest".

Is "Assailing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Assailing" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Assailing"?

"Assailing" is pronounced /ə-ˈsāl/ and divided into syllables as as·sail.

What is the origin of the word "Assailing"?

"Assailing" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French assaillir, from Vulgar Latin *assalire, alteration of Latin assilire to leap upon, from ad- + salire to leap sally. First known use: 13th century.

What is another word for "Assailing" meaning "to criticize harshly and usually publicly"?

When "Assailing" (verb) means to criticize harshly and usually publicly, synonyms include abusing, attacking, bashing, belaboring, blasting and castigating.