Synonyms of attacked

attacked

verb

past tense of attack

1

as in assaulted

to take sudden, violent action against

our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assaulted
• raided
• stormed
• struck
• ambushed
• robbed
• charged
• swarmed
• invaded
• assailed
• rushed
• set at
• turned (on)
• descended (on or upon)
• set on
• bushwhacked
• beset
• jumped (on)
• trashed
• set upon
• went in (on)
• flew at
• rounded on
• surprised
• pounced (on or upon)
• sicced
• went at
• bombed
• flanked
• pitched into
• besieged
• sacked
• tore into
• mobbed
• lit into
• waylaid
• bombarded
• mugged
• beat up on
• blitzed
• plundered
• ravaged
• battered
• looted
• nuked
• buffeted
• ganged up (on)
• barraged
• pillaged
• bum-rushed
• beleaguered
• ambuscaded
• plastered
• cannonaded
• overran
• enveloped
• pressed
• harried
• cannoned
• banged away (at)
• forayed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protected
• covered
• secured
• defended
• guarded
• shielded

2

as in slammed

to criticize harshly and usually publicly

the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slammed
• scolded
• abused
• criticized
• blasted
• assailed
• insulted
• savaged
• harassed
• excoriated
• bashed
• cursed
• jumped (on)
• lambasted
• castigated
• trashed
• scathed
• tied into
• vituperated
• berated
• sailed into
• reprimanded
• belabored
• reviled
• lit into
• harangued
• potshot
• affronted
• blasphemed
• beat up on
• disparaged
• slandered
• whipped
• harried
• vilified
• belittled
• libeled
• execrated
• chastised
• profaned
• rebuked
• slurred
• traduced
• aspersed
• imprecated
• fulminated
• laced (into)
• lashed (out)
• bad-mouthed
• blackguarded
• chid
• put down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praised
• commended
• hailed
• acclaimed
• complimented
• lauded

3

as in tackled

to start work on energetically

Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tackled
• approached
• undertook
• addressed
• had at
• pursued
• waded (in or into)
• dived (into)
• went at
• sailed into
• tore into
• faced
• pitched into
• focused (on)
• fell (to)
• settled (down)
• concentrated (on)
• lit into
• plunged (in)
• buckled (down to)
• pitched in
• zeroed (in on)
• knuckled down (to)
• took up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoided
• evaded
• shunned
• played
• poked
• fooled
• lagged
• messed
• idled
• trifled
• dawdled
• fiddled (around)
• dallied
• puttered (around)
• pottered (around)
• dillydallied
• monkeyed (around)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of attacked

Evidence publicly presented in the Clancy case indicates Lindsay was the only adult at the family home when investigators believe the children were attacked. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

The Defense Ministry in Bucharest said that so far this year, Russia had attacked targets close to Romania's frontier 54 times, representing a significant increase on the 28 attacks close to the border in all of 2025. — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026

The peaceful demonstration turned violent when the fishermen attacked the floating protesters with poles and spinning propellers, the foundation reported. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Miller rushed to the smoking deck and began firing an anti-aircraft gun (despite not being trained to use it) at the planes, and helped carry wounded sailors to safety. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

An ambulance sent to rescue her was also attacked by the Israeli military, killing two medics. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

In the recording, Davis said Anderson was angry and believed his arm had been broken when Shakur and members of his entourage attacked him inside the MGM Grand earlier that night. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

In August 1892, her father, Andrew, and stepmother, Abby, were discovered dead in their home, having been attacked with a hatchet. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

In June, more than 30 people were killed when gunmen attacked the main airport in Niamey. — CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026