attack dog

noun

1

: a dog trained to attack on command or on sight

2

: a person noted for harsh, personal, and usually public verbal attacks against others

a political attack dog

—usually hyphenated when used before another noun

attack-dog tactics

Synonyms of attack dog

• shark
• mudslinger
• polemist
• hired gun
• hit man
• hatchet man

Examples of attack dog in a Sentence

The charges against the candidate were made by one of the governor's attack dogs.

his reputation as a political attack dog earned him the vice presidential spot on the ticket

Recent Examples on the Web

Pulte, the 38-year-old director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is best known for his role as a partisan attack dog for the president. —Eric McDaniel, NPR, 11 June 2026

Activists accused Israeli forces of mistreatment in detention, describing beatings, tasers and attack dogs. —Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

After Trump won, Giuliani continued as his attack dog, even traveling to Ukraine to seek damaging information about Biden’s son, Hunter. —Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 4 May 2026

After Trump won, Giuliani continued as his attack dog, even traveling to Ukraine to seek damaging information about Biden’s son, Hunter. —ABC News, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for attack dog

• analog
• analogue
• catalogue
• decalogue
• demagogue
• dialogue
• epilogue
• homologue
• monologue
• pedagogue
• synagogue
• tagalog

Kids Definition

attack dog

noun

: a dog trained to attack upon receiving a command or upon seeing a certain object (as a person)