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
• blasted
• criticized
• insulted
• assailed
• savaged
• harassed
• excoriated
• bashed
• cursed
• jumped (on)
• lambasted
• castigated
• trashed
• scathed
• tied into
• vituperated
• berated
• reprimanded
• sailed into
• 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

One study in 2020 surveyed 261 herders in Mongolia, another common habitat for snow leopards; while many reported having seen snow leopards, or had their livestock attacked by snow leopards, none reported any attacks on humans. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026

The upstream piranhas attacked her, and her blood flowing downstream attracted the rest of the piranhas, leaving the creek clear for the herd to cross. —Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan national in the leg after agents were allegedly ambushed and attacked with a shovel. —Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Balor attacked both Punk and Styles, squishing Punk with three Coups de Grace. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments that Japan could support Taiwan if China attacked the island sparked tensions, and prospects of replacement pandas are uncertain. —Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026

And our neighbors are being hunted, and kidnapped, and attacked daily. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026

Police said a 33-year-old man was reportedly attacked by the 14-month old dog inside his home. —Adam Thompson, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026

Workers who were motivated by their belief in public service are being attacked on a daily basis. —Gary Phelan, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2025