* Assail means to attack violently or verbally.
* Attack means to make a violent attempt to harm or defeat someone or something.
Both words describe an aggressive act of violence or aggression.
Here's how they differ slightly:
* Assail often implies a more sudden and forceful attack, possibly with a sense of overwhelming force.
* Attack is a broader term that can encompass a range of aggressive actions, from a physical assault to a verbal attack.
While they are not opposites, they are not entirely interchangeable either. The specific choice of word depends on the nuance you want to convey.