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 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}] [ant: {defend}]
     3: attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the
        left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" [syn: {attack},
         {round}, {lash out}, {snipe}, {assault}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0