assailing
Launching verbal strikes
Assailing is attacking or criticizing vigorously.
The word covers both physical assault and verbal aggression: Enemy forces were assailing the fortress, Critics have been assailing the proposal since it was announced.
Doubts or fears can assail someone, suggesting an overwhelming mental onslaught: Doubts assailed her as she approached the podium.
Publicly declaring disapproval
- condemningExpressing severe disapproval
- censuringFormally expressing strong disapproval
- rebukingVoicing sharp disapproval
- reproachingBlaming with disappointment
lambasting · excoriating · castigating · berating · chastising · disparaging · vilifying · deriding
Sustained, overwhelming attack
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- torrentViolent rushing flow
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- avalancheRapid mountain snow collapse
inundation · onslaught · wave · surge · bombardment · battering · pummeling · pounding
Aggressive act against another
- besiegeSurround to force surrender
- bombardAttack without ceasing
- chargeCost or accusation
- raidSudden armed incursion
storm · strike · offensive · siege · incursion · invasion · ambush · barrage
Attacking someone physically
- bombardingAttacking continuously with missiles
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- jarringDisturbingly incongruous
grating · accosting · offending · affronting · striking · hitting · battering · pummeling
denouncing
Publicly declaring disapproval
- condemningExpressing severe disapproval
- censuringFormally expressing strong disapproval
- rebukingVoicing sharp disapproval
reproaching · lambasting · excoriating · castigating · berating · chastising · disparaging · vilifying · deriding · ridiculing
barrage
Sustained, overwhelming attack
avalanche · inundation · onslaught · wave · surge · bombardment · battering · pummeling · pounding · pelting
attack
Aggressive act against another
raid · storm · strike · offensive · siege · incursion · invasion · ambush · barrage · onslaught
assaulting
Attacking someone physically
- bombardingAttacking continuously with missiles
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
jarring · grating · accosting · offending · affronting · striking · hitting · battering · pummeling · stinging
assailingdefending
Protecting against harm
protecting · shielding · guarding · safeguarding · sheltering
assailingpraising
Voicing admiration
defending · lauding · extolling · championing · commending
assailingretreating
Moving back from advance
withdrawing · fleeing · falling back · disengaging · surrendering
assault, salient, assail, assailant, unassailable, somersault, assailable, assailed, assailants