- 1assail somebody/something to attack someone or something violently, either physically or with words He was assailed with fierce blows to the head. The proposal was assailed by the opposition party. (figurative) A vile smell assailed my nostrils.
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- 2[usually passive] assail somebody to disturb or upset someone severely to be assailed by worries/doubts/fears
assail
verbNAmE//əˈseɪl//
(formal)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they assail he / she / it assails
past simple assailed
-ing form assailing
Check pronunciation: assail