assail in WordNet English dictionary

1. attack in speech or writing
   "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
   attack  round  assail  lash out  snipe  assault 
   
2. attack someone physically or emotionally
   "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
   assail  assault  set on  attack 
   
3. launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
   "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"
   attack  assail