1
assail sb/sth
The troops assailed the city at dawn.
军队在黎明时袭击了那座城市。
攻击；抨击
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
攻击；抨击
to attack someone physically or emotionally
The troops assailed the city at dawn.
军队在黎明时袭击了那座城市。
用严厉的言辞或暴力攻击。
To attack with harsh words or violent force.
克服或成功反驳；击败。
To overcome or successfully argue against; defeat.
assail
Base
原形
assails
3rd person
第三人称单数
assailing
-ing
现在分词
assailed
Past
过去式
assailed
Past participle
过去分词
They assail the report with sharp criticism.
他们以尖锐的批评抨击这份报告。
The enemy assailed the fort all night.
敌人整夜袭击要塞。
Critics are assailing the new law.
批评人士正在猛烈抨击这项新法律。
及物动词；指对身体或情感上的攻击或抨击。规则变化。
The strong smell of garlic assailed her as soon as she opened the kitchen door.
她一打开厨房门，浓烈的蒜味就扑面而来。
He was suddenly assailed by doubts about his career choice.
他突然被对自己职业选择的疑虑所困扰。
Huge waves assailed the cliffs during the storm.
暴风雨期间，巨浪猛烈地冲击着悬崖。
The troops assailed the city at dawn.
军队在黎明时袭击了那座城市。
这个被动结构用于描述被情绪、疑虑等困扰。
She was assailed by doubts about her decision.
她被自己的决定所带来的疑虑所困扰。
Not this
The enemy assailed on the fortress.
Use this
The enemy assailed the fortress.
assail 是及物动词，后面直接接宾语，不能像名词 attack 那样加介词 on。中文表达“对某物攻击”时容易加“对”，但英语中必须删除 on。
Not this
The sudden assail of the city took everyone by surprise.
Use this
The sudden assault of the city took everyone by surprise.
assail 是动词，不是名词；表示“攻击”的名词是 assault（或 attack）。这里需要名词作主语，所以应改用 assault。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
用问题质问某人；纷纷向某人提问
The reporters assailed the politician with questions.
记者们纷纷向那位政客提问。
被疑虑所困扰
She was assailed by doubts about her decision.
她对自己的决定感到疑虑重重。
强烈冲击感官；扑面而来
The smell of fresh bread assailed our senses as we entered the bakery.
我们走进面包店时，新鲜面包的香味扑面而来。
全力解决问题；着手攻克难题
The team assailed the problem with renewed energy.
团队以新的干劲全力攻克这个难题。
攻击敌人；袭击敌军
The troops assailed the enemy at dawn.
部队在黎明时袭击了敌军。
用问题围攻某人；向某人连番发问
The reporters assailed the politician with questions about the scandal.
记者们就丑闻向那位政客连番发问。
被疑虑所困扰
She was assailed by doubts about whether she had made the right choice.
她对自己是否做出了正确的选择疑虑重重。
强烈刺激感官；扑面而来
The aroma of fresh bread assailed our senses as we entered the bakery.
我们一走进面包店，新鲜面包的香气就扑面而来。
Use assail naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
把 assail 联想成 assault 的兄弟词，意思都是“攻击/抨击”；记一幅画面：暴徒突然挥拳扑来。
语域：formal 常见场景：新闻报道、文学作品、正式演讲 通常用于正式或书面语境，多出现在文学、新闻报道或正式演讲中；日常口语中较少用。
These words all rhyme with assail /əˈseɪl/ because they share the stressed /eɪl/ sound. Be careful: aisle /aɪl/ and isle /aɪl/ look similar but sound different.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.