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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attacking
Rather than attacking all rapidly growing cells, as chemotherapy does, the drug targets a key cancer-driving pathway known as KRAS, which is involved in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors.
—
Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 5 June 2026
Akindahunsi is accused of attacking several women the night of May 28.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
The girl -- who was in Las Vegas for the National Barrel Horse Association's Professional's Choice Vegas Super Show -- is accused of attacking three horses in a barn early Saturday, according to Las Vegas police and the NBHA.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 4 June 2026
In theory, attacking two accounts this way increased the odds for each try to 1 in 500,000.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
Other passengers ran to get help, and later confirmed to law enforcement that the man had no interaction with Swan before attacking.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 June 2026
When a roach walks through an area treated with boric acid, the dust clings to its body, later attacking its nervous system when ingested.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
At times, though, Gordon’s decision-making in the attacking third and in front of goal can be lacking.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
And yet Gabbard never took the next obvious step and advised the president against attacking Iran.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 5 June 2026
Akindahunsi is accused of attacking several women the night of May 28.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
The girl -- who was in Las Vegas for the National Barrel Horse Association's Professional's Choice Vegas Super Show -- is accused of attacking three horses in a barn early Saturday, according to Las Vegas police and the NBHA.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 4 June 2026
In theory, attacking two accounts this way increased the odds for each try to 1 in 500,000.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
Other passengers ran to get help, and later confirmed to law enforcement that the man had no interaction with Swan before attacking.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 June 2026
When a roach walks through an area treated with boric acid, the dust clings to its body, later attacking its nervous system when ingested.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
At times, though, Gordon’s decision-making in the attacking third and in front of goal can be lacking.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
And yet Gabbard never took the next obvious step and advised the president against attacking Iran.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacking
Verb
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While federal law dictates up to 20 years in prison or assaulting pilots or flight attendants, there is no nationwide standard for public transit operators.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
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John Gotti's grandson, Carmine Gotti Agnello, was arrested Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a woman, Nassau County Police said.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Over the past two months, Paul has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
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Jacob got back into the match by slamming Reigns into a post.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom have taken a big step towards tackling growing threats to undersea pipelines and cables, which carry huge amounts of energy and data around the world.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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The Spa The hotel’s stylish subterranean spa, a roughly 6,500-square-foot complex, features candlelit treatment rooms offering everything from deep-tissue recovery work to the Rea Signature four-hands massage, with two specialists simultaneously tackling your stress.—
Anya von Bremzen,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Even rural birds manage to find some human items, most likely by raiding farm bins or garages.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
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At 13-years-old, Blue Ivy Carter is already raiding one of the best closets in the game.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Publicly, Ingoglia has become known for barnstorming the state to hold choreographed press conferences scolding cities and counties for wasteful spending.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
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Security guard Pascal Duvier, most recently infamous for allegedly scolding 11-year-old Ada Law at a hotel in São Paulo, is clearing the air.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Around the same time, Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 8, were with their mother and younger sibling approaching a crosswalk at Triunfo Canyon Road.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Women approaching perimenopause, or anyone with a family history of osteoporosis, may benefit from talking to a doctor about bone density screening before a fracture forces the conversation.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Verb
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For all the prior cinematic depictions of storming bunkers and camaraderie under fire, Pressure offers us the quiet heroism of rational restraint in the figure of James Stagg, who weathered his inner storms and bore the courage to be disliked.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
29 May 2026
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This revolutionary fervor culminated in both Fidel and Raúl, with roughly 140 rebel revolutionaries in tow, storming Cuba’s second-largest military installation, the Moncada Barracks, in July 1953.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The rollout of some of these technologies has been quick, and departments are beginning to confront the risks of abusing the technology and changing the way laws are enforced.—
Noah Daly
Updated June 1,
Idaho Statesman,
1 June 2026
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Many files included women abusing children, police say.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attacking. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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