Help backward group of people with verbal attack (8)
I believe the answer is:
diatribe
'verbal attack' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'help backward group of' is the wordplay.
'help' becomes 'aid' (synonyms).
'backward' says the letters should be written backwards.
'group of' becomes 'tribe' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'aid' backwards is 'dia'.
'dia'+'tribe'='DIATRIBE'
'people with' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for diatribe that I've seen before include "A Prolonged harangue" , "Loud verbal attack" , "Bitter verbal attack" , "Insults" , "Abusive harangue" .)