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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

assail

Verb

IPA /əˈseɪl/

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Meaning in plain English

To attack someone or something forcefully with criticism.

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Pronunciation

assail/əˈseɪl/

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  1. A proposal is presented

  2. Critics attack it with harsh words

In this sense, to assail a proposal is to criticise it strongly.

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Examples in context

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  1. The critic assailed the film for its careless treatment of history.
  2. Several reviewers assailed the report's unsupported conclusions.

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To attack someone or something forcefully with criticism.
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assail — To attack someone or something forcefully with criticism.

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To attack someone or something forcefully with criticism.

Compare: The critic assailed the film for its careless treatment of history.

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Word origin

Ultimately from Latin assilire, formed from ad-, towards, and salire, to leap.

Did you know?

Assail a proposal and assail an argument describe strong verbal attacks.

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assail

/əˈseɪl/ (Verb)

“Formal: this lesson uses the critical sense. Assail can also describe a violent physical attack in other contexts.”

englishskillstudio.com