assail

(verb) attack someone physically or emotionally. Synonyms: assault, set on, attack. Examples: "The mugger assaulted the woman." "Nightmares assailed him regularly."

(verb) launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with. Synonyms: attack. Examples: "Hitler attacked poland on september 1, 1939 and started world war ii." "Serbian forces assailed bosnian towns all week."

(verb) attack in speech or writing. Synonyms: attack, round, lash out, snipe, assault. Example: "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new house speaker."