assail (
http://definr.com/assail)
v 1: attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger
assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him
regularly" [syn:
assault,
set on,
attack]
2: launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities with, as
in warfare; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939
and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed
Bosnian towns all week" [syn:
attack] [ant:
defend]
3: attack verbally, in speech or writing; "The editors of the
left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" [syn:
attack,
round,
lash out,
snipe,
assault]