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
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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
Under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann, Germany has rediscovered its attacking rhythm and pressing intensity, signaling a potential return to the elite.
—
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has angered many Americans by wearing masks while on duty, attacking peaceful protesters and arresting mostly people with no criminal record.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
During the final days of the campaign, the two candidates began attacking each other’s backgrounds.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
However, much of his campaign continued to focus on attacking opponents.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Maxx Crosby attacking quarterbacks off the edge.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Still hunting down migrants as well as attacking and arresting US citizens in California and other Blue States, the MAGA administration scoffed at the new laws as unenforcible, but the symbolism is apparent.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
In July, Fokina found himself in a similar spot in the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open final against Alex De Minaur, attacking with a forehand up the line on match point.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2025
In 2018, for example, Lucas Pablo was convicted of assault for allegedly attacking an M2 Norteño member with a baseball bat during an gang initiation, records show.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has angered many Americans by wearing masks while on duty, attacking peaceful protesters and arresting mostly people with no criminal record.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
During the final days of the campaign, the two candidates began attacking each other’s backgrounds.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
However, much of his campaign continued to focus on attacking opponents.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Maxx Crosby attacking quarterbacks off the edge.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Still hunting down migrants as well as attacking and arresting US citizens in California and other Blue States, the MAGA administration scoffed at the new laws as unenforcible, but the symbolism is apparent.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
In July, Fokina found himself in a similar spot in the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open final against Alex De Minaur, attacking with a forehand up the line on match point.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2025
In 2018, for example, Lucas Pablo was convicted of assault for allegedly attacking an M2 Norteño member with a baseball bat during an gang initiation, records show.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacking
Verb
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Martinez and Ruiz were present in court Wednesday and both have entered not guilty pleas to a federal charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Dunn is charged with assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating and interfering with a federal officer.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Instead of slamming it home, Antetokounmpo soared over the defenders to make an improbable catch, landed and flicked an on-target pass to Rollins for a corner 3 before falling out of bounds to give Milwaukee a 14-point lead.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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His brief mention of the shutdown focused on slamming Democrats.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For a vacuum that’s quiet in operation and capable of tackling messes on hard floors and medium-pile carpets, this is a great pick.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
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While they’re used to high-pressure performances and tough judges, tackling a tango on live TV is a whole different ballgame.—
Diana Pearl,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In Dreams, Franco recalls a resourceful Chastain raiding her closet at home for luxury costumes to play a wealthy socialite on set.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
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Good taste must be genetic, because these celebrity daughters can't stop raiding their stylish moms' closets.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This way of peering at screen culture from an inexact distance, which also comes up in a scolding scene where Ethan scrolls aimlessly through something like TikTok, rankles in a play that is otherwise so precise about physical time and space.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
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Like an impatient parent scolding their toddler, Frankenstein grows frustrated with his monster’s limited capacity for speech.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Still, the company reported a $110 million net loss for that same period, due in large part to spending of $90 million on research and development, approaching the $107 million spent on R&D for all of 2024.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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This follows reports of Netflix approaching iHeartMedia with a similar deal and a THR report of the streamer sending dozens of requests to agents at WME, UTA and CAA in an attempt to sign on more video podcasters.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In the predawn hours of October 31, FBI agents descended on the Detroit suburb where the men lived and detonated smoke bombs before storming into their homes.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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Stines, 44, was allegedly caught on security video storming into Mullins’ chambers before shooting him in an alleged courthouse ambush that rattled the Appalachian community.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The pair also pretended that Tammy was allegedly abusing them.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Archbishop Mitty product and San Jose native Aaron Gordon scored 18 while abusing Podziemski and other Warriors guards in the low post.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attacking. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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