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 aggression, assault, attempt, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, descent, offense (or offence), offensive, onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strike Related Words 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 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 access, bout, case, fit, seizure, siege, spell, turn Related Words recurrence, relapse; brainstorm, convulsion, eclampsia, pang, paroxysm, spasm, throe; agitation, frenzy; breakdown, collapse, prostration Near Antonyms 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 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