Assail vs. Besiege — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Assail and Besiege
ADVERTISEMENT
Compare with Definitions
Assail
Make a concerted or violent attack on
The Scots army assailed Edward's army from the rear
Besiege
To surround (a defended location such as a fort or a walled city) with hostile forces.
Assail
To attack violently, as with blows or military force; assault.
Besiege
To crowd around; hem in
Fans besieged the star as she came out of the hotel.
Assail
To attack verbally, as with ridicule or censure.
ADVERTISEMENT
Besiege
To harass or overwhelm, as with requests
A shop owner besieged by job applications.
Assail
To trouble or beset, as with questions or doubts.
Besiege
(transitive) To beset or surround with armed forces for the purpose of compelling to surrender, to lay siege to, beleaguer.
Assail
(transitive) To attack with harsh words or violent force (also figuratively).
Muggers assailed them as they entered an alley.
Our ears were assailed by her joyous efforts on her new saxophone.
Besiege
To beleaguer, to vex, to lay siege to, to beset.
Assail
To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery.
No rude noise mine ears assailing.
No storm can now assailThe charm he wears within.
Besiege
To assail or ply, as with requests or demands.
Assail
To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like.
The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail.
Besiege
To beset or surround with armed forces, for the purpose of compelling to surrender; to lay siege to; to beleaguer; to beset.
Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost.
Assail
To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like.
The papal authority . . . assailed.
They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony.
Besiege
Surround so as to force to give up;
The Turks besieged Vienna
Assail
Attack someone physically or emotionally;
The mugger assaulted the woman
Nightmares assailed him regularly
Besiege
Cause to feel distressed or worried;
She was besieged by so many problems that she got discouraged
Assail
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
Besiege
Harass, as with questions or requests;
The press photographers besieged the movie star
Assail
Attack in speech or writing;
The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Coordinate vs. OverseeNext Comparison
Fiesta vs. Carnival