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