Open English Wordnet
Verbs
(v)assail, assault, set on, attackattack someone physically or emotionally“The mugger assaulted the woman”,
“Nightmares assailed him regularly” (v)attack, assaillaunch 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”