attack

attack

verb

Definition of ATTACK

1

to take sudden, violent action against <our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg>

Synonyms assail, assault, beset, bushwhack, charge, descend (on or upon), go in (on), jump (on), pounce (on or upon), raid, rush, set on, sic (also sick), storm, strike, trash, turn (on)

Related Words bum-rush, gang up (on), mob, swarm; mug, rob; ambuscade, ambush, surprise (also surprize), waylay; blitz, bomb, bombard, nuke; barrage, cannon, cannonade; bang away (at), batter, buffet, plaster; beleaguer, besiege, press; harry, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack; foray, invade, overrun; envelop, flank

Phrases beat up on, fly at, go at, light into, pitch into, round on, set at, set upon, tear into

Near Antonyms cover, defend, guard, protect, secure, shield

2

to criticize harshly and usually publicly <the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted>

Synonyms abuse, assail, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate

Related Words berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip; blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane; affront, insult, slur; asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down; libel, slander, traduce, vilify; chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, reproof; fulminate, lash (out)

Phrases beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into

Near Antonyms acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

3

to start work on energetically <Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm>

Synonyms dive (into), tackle, wade (in or into)

Related Words address, approach, face; buckle (down to), concentrate (on), focus (on), knuckle down (to), zero (in on); fall (to), pitch in, plunge (in), settle (down); pursue, take up, undertake

Phrases go at, have at, light into, pitch into, sail into, tear into

Near Antonyms avoid, evade, shun; dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool, idle, lag, mess, monkey (around), play, poke, potter (around), putter (around), trifle