attack someone physically or emotionally; The mugger assaulted the woman; Nightmares assailed him regularly

[ Syn: assault , set on , attack ]

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

[ Syn: attack ]

attack in speech or writing; The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker

[ Syn: attack , round , lash out , snipe , assault ]