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1. Use aggressive force against
   "Nightmares assailed him regularly";
   - assault, set on, attack
    
2. Launch assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
   "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week";
   - attack
    
3. Aggressively challenge in speech or writing
   "The editors of the left-leaning paper assailed the new House Speaker";
   - attack, round, lash out, snipe, assault

Derived forms: assails, assailed, assailing

Type of: contend, criticise [Brit], criticize, damn, fight, knock, pick apart, struggle

Encyclopedia: Assail