attack

1 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence The USS Constitution was nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after its oaken hull successfully withstood a British attack Synonyms of attack aggression, assault, attempt, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, descent, offense (or offence), offensive, onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strike Words Related to attack ambuscade, ambush; counteraggression, counterassault, counterattack, counteroffensive, counterstrike; sally, sortie; envelopment, flanking; breakthrough, foray, incursion, invasion; pillage, ravage, sack; air raid, bombardment, bombing; siege, storm; barrage, cannonade, fusillade, hail, salvo, volley; whammy Near Antonyms of attack defense, defensive, guard, shield; opposition, resistance; protection, security, shelter

2 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder malaria is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever Synonyms of attack access, bout, case, fit, seizure, siege, spell, turn Words Related to attack recurrence, relapse; brainstorm, convulsion, eclampsia, pang, paroxysm, spasm, throe; agitation, frenzy; breakdown, collapse, prostration Near Antonyms of attack arrest, relief, remission

1 to take sudden, violent action against our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg Synonyms of attack 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) Words Related to attack 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 of attack 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 of attack abuse, assail, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate Words Related to attack 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 of attack 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 of attack dive (into), tackle, wade (in or into) Words Related to attack 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 of attack avoid, evade, shun; dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool, idle, lag, mess, monkey (around), play, poke, potter (around), putter (around), trifle