1
as in assaulting
to take sudden, violent action against
our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slamming
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tackling
to start work on energetically
Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attacking
After the good Samaritan got him off the woman, witnesses say the man wandered to produce and began attacking a 16-year-old boy, but Garbe had followed him.
—
Joy Benedict, CBS News, 19 June 2026
After coming close on numerous attacking opportunities in the first, the Real Madrid star put England ahead for the good in the opening moments of the second.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
The pending bill’s supporters say its changes are designed to address cases like that of Gilberto Guttierrez, a Los Angeles County man who has been accused of attacking his wife four times over the last 12 years.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
That England avoided what would have been an embarrassing last-sixteen exit to Slovakia was thanks mostly to the individual brilliance of Jude Bellingham, its attacking prodigy, who scissored in an acrobatic finish at the death.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Australia enters the match confident after a tactical 2-0 upset against Turkiye, showcasing a strong counter-attacking style.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Can South Korea's resilience overcome Mexico's attacking efficiency?
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 18 June 2026
Three central defenders, four midfielders, one attacking midfielder and two forwards.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
After the launch of Operation Epic Fury, Iran immediately moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, attacking shipping with drones and missiles, which caused shipping companies to halt nearly all transit through the waterway.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2026
Joy Benedict, CBS News, 19 June 2026
After coming close on numerous attacking opportunities in the first, the Real Madrid star put England ahead for the good in the opening moments of the second.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
The pending bill’s supporters say its changes are designed to address cases like that of Gilberto Guttierrez, a Los Angeles County man who has been accused of attacking his wife four times over the last 12 years.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
That England avoided what would have been an embarrassing last-sixteen exit to Slovakia was thanks mostly to the individual brilliance of Jude Bellingham, its attacking prodigy, who scissored in an acrobatic finish at the death.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Australia enters the match confident after a tactical 2-0 upset against Turkiye, showcasing a strong counter-attacking style.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Can South Korea's resilience overcome Mexico's attacking efficiency?
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 18 June 2026
Three central defenders, four midfielders, one attacking midfielder and two forwards.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
After the launch of Operation Epic Fury, Iran immediately moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, attacking shipping with drones and missiles, which caused shipping companies to halt nearly all transit through the waterway.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacking
Verb
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Previously, Jackman had been convicted of a series of rapes in California, assaulting 20 people in Orange County in 1975 and 1976.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
Police accused the singer of assaulting the officers who were trying to take him into custody.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The bomber was in the air a very short time before slamming into the ground about halfway down the runway.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
-
By Monday morning, Israeli politicians from across the spectrum were already slamming the deal, despite the fact that its details remain largely ill-defined.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Leading the Swiss is defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka, whose one goal, six assists and eight yellow cards for Sunderland in the Premier League paint quite the accurate picture of how the hard-tackling, slick-passing 33-year-old makes an impact.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
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Boise Planning and Zoning Commission chair Chris Danley, who presented the families with ceremonial keys to their new houses alongside officials from First Story and Hayden Homes, praised the role of nonprofit groups in tackling the region’s affordability crisis.—
Matan Josephy,
Idaho Statesman,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Want to stop raiding the fridge every night before bed?—
Dr. Deepika Chopra,
Flow Space,
16 June 2026
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While our dreams of raiding Tay Tay’s closet will likely never come true, that won’t stop of from borrowing her style and shopping Swift’s favorite designer brands.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The princess hilariously put her little brother in his place by scolding him.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
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On March 12, the judge sought to change the journalists’ seating arrangement in court after scolding them for asking İmamoğlu questions during a hearing.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Until the oil market truly returns back to something approaching normal, the system will continue to rely on those stockpiles.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
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Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air defenses shot down more than 130 drones approaching the city.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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But to compare them with Thomas Jefferson or American soldiers storming the beaches of Normandy is absurd and more than a little insulting.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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Trump's displeasure eventually culminated in him ripping off his lapel mic and storming off the set.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
Verb
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According to Variety and Puck, the film was originally set to dramatize Jackson being accused of abusing 13‑year‑old Jordan Chandler in 1993.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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The lawsuit, filed in December, claims that the Litchfield Middle School failed to act on a complaint from the 1980s that Driscoll was allegedly abusing students before Fitterer and Bird were middle school students in the 1990s.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attacking. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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