assail

verb

1
attack in speech or writing
The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
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
3
attack someone physically or emotionally
The mugger assaulted the woman
Nightmares assailed him regularly

Also useful for “assail”:Unscrambler— Rearrange the letters in “assail”