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