ASSAILING Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

assailing

verb

present participle of assail

as in attacking

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

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as in assaulting

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 assailing The race partly revolved around the war in Gaza, with Lander assailing Goldman for not being critical enough of Israel. — Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 24 June 2026 Rabb was propelled by a constellation of progressive groups, charting a path to victory partly by assailing his own party as listening more to donors than voters. — CBS News, 24 May 2026 Meanwhile, Ukraine has been assailing oil terminals and refineries deep inside Russia with long-range drones and missiles, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s economy. — ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 Trump has singled out Moore for criticism, blaming him for a Potomac sewage spill, assailing his handing of Baltimore's bridge collapse and invoking a controversy over his military record. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026 Horvath, 43, has been one of the mayor’s most outspoken critics over the past year, assailing her record on homelessness and last year’s Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026 In 1495 Columbus retaliated by assailing Taíno villages and capturing chiefs. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assailing

Verb

Generally, these hunters do not start attacking cells unless there is a reason to do so, such as inflammation, a key marker of infection.

— Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
For example, Way of the Sword rewards defensive play in the form of Issen, powerful counterattacks that are triggered by attacking before an enemy strikes.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacking

Verb

Dad is an abusive alcoholic, prone to berating and even assaulting his daughter in front of guests, of which Vangelio is currently the only one.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
The man is being charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, obstructing a peace officer and assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, according to Windsor Police.

— Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of assaulting

Verb

Meanwhile, Talarico is barnstorming the state, slamming Republicans mostly on kitchen table issues like stubborn inflation and the price of gas that has skyrocketed due to Trump’s war with Iran.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
There was little time for anyone to flee as flash floods decimated villages, slamming into houses, roads, bridges and power plants.

— Megan De Mar, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

College sports’ current arms race of money, along with unrestricted transfers, is threatening to shut out rising challengers like UConn football, with rich teams now dangling lucrative offers and raiding talent like never before.

— U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
Check it out… ‘Ruthless Podcast’ dives into Swalwell’s Fang Fang scandal and the FBI raiding his home.

— , FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of raiding

Verb

Or what about storming the field, the tradition that follows a momentous win, when order dissolves and players brace themselves for a horde of fans pouring out of the stands.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
That’s been the story of this third season, one that started with Rhaenyra storming the castle and taking the Iron Throne and then promptly saw her get picked apart by dozens of unforeseen calamities.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of storming

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“Assailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assailing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of assailing

verb

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