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attack

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb attack contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of attack are assail, assault, bombard, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When could assail be used to replace attack?

The words assail and attack are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When might assault be a better fit than attack?

Although the words assault and attack have much in common, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When would bombard be a good substitute for attack?

The synonyms bombard and attack are sometimes interchangeable, but bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When can storm be used instead of attack?

While the synonyms storm and attack are close in meaning, storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of attack
Noun
Jane Fonda is relaunching the Committee for the First Amendment, the McCarthy-era committee founded by her father Henry Fonda with such stars as Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall to protect against attacks on free speech. Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025 The pair allegedly stole an Infiniti Q50, which was used during the attack. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
An Arden Arcade woman is in jail Thursday on numerous felony charges after allegedly attacking her husband and young children as one child pleaded with dispatchers for help, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Two people were reportedly killed and three others injured as a man attacked a synagogue in Manchester, England, on Thursday. Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for attack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack
Noun
  • Yet there has been an asymmetry between the Sturm und Drang of that operation—a midnight raid featured agents rappelling from helicopters onto a South Side apartment building—and its effect.
    Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Adults and children alike were pulled from their apartments, crying and screaming during the raid, which led to the arrests of 37 undocumented immigrants.
    Whitney Wild, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • From a bleak job hunt upon her arrival in 2016 to undergoing treatment for her second bout with breast cancer during the uncertainty and fear of COVID, Davis recalls her journey through raw vulnerability and splashes of humor.
    Essence, Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Fans have been waiting for Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor to duke it out in the octagon, but injuries and other factors have postponed the bout.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Combs also apologized to abuse victims around the world who may have been triggered by the surveillance footage of him assaulting Ventura.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The bigger issue is the Texas A&M defense, which was assaulted by a Notre Dame offense still figuring it out with a first-year starter at quarterback.
    Matt Hayes, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Kirk followed Guerrero the next inning, slamming the first of his two homers over the outfield wall.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • As comedians from Bill Burr to Kevin Hart were slammed for performing at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival, Dave Chappelle said the Middle Eastern nation is actually more suitable for stand-up than the United States.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If the thought of budgeting gives you a headache, there's another way to approach managing your money without tracking every expense or obsessing over spreadsheets.
    Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Nozawa approached the decor with the goal of softening the architecture's hard lines and surfaces, while channeling the color palette of the building materials.
    Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The onslaught of lefties, in many ways, makes more sense against these Phillies.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Swift's appearances also brought an onslaught of criticism from male fans, who were mad that her presence was distracting from the game.
    Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On Wednesday, the Italian carabinieri art squad executed the seizure of 21 pieces of tapestries, drawings and engravings following a judge’s warrant.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the disorder generally presents with a global developmental delay, moderate to severe intellectual disability, and seizures and progressive motor symptoms, amongst other things.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Proposition 50 is California’s armament in a redistricting war that has stormed into at least three states and threatens to spread to others.
    Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • At the height of the protests the demonstrators stormed and partially burnt the parliament in Nairobi and dozens of protesters were killed.
    Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on attack

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