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
Just attacking everything with strikes.
—
Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 11 June 2026
Police in the northwest Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights have released a sketch of a man accused of attacking and choking a woman this past weekend.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent, with some attacking police with chairs and rocks.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
But the case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent with some attacking police with chairs and rocks.
—Henry Austin, NBC news, 10 June 2026
Rather than operate with a single No 10 and two strikers, Ingolitsch flipped, using two attacking midfielders and a single forward.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Traffic through the strait plunged after Iran retaliated by attacking ships and mining the sea lane.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 10 June 2026
Akindahunsi is accused of attacking several women the night of May 28.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 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
Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 11 June 2026
Police in the northwest Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights have released a sketch of a man accused of attacking and choking a woman this past weekend.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent, with some attacking police with chairs and rocks.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
But the case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent with some attacking police with chairs and rocks.
—Henry Austin, NBC news, 10 June 2026
Rather than operate with a single No 10 and two strikers, Ingolitsch flipped, using two attacking midfielders and a single forward.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Traffic through the strait plunged after Iran retaliated by attacking ships and mining the sea lane.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 10 June 2026
Akindahunsi is accused of attacking several women the night of May 28.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacking
Verb
-
At least one other Portland ICE building protester has been sentenced to prison, but not for assaulting a federal officer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
One person was charged with assaulting a police officer.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The Massachusetts Republican Party is slamming both Markey and Healey for backing Platner.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
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Hugh Laurie has apologized to a writer after slamming her criticisms of House on social media.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Lenny, who was born and raised on Maui, caught his first wave at Cove Park in Kihei at age four, was windsurfing by age six, and was tackling giant waves in his teens.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Now, after tackling what many considered the first impossible mission — reforming the United Nations — Bartos is preparing for what may prove an even harder challenge.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The former tomb-raiding Angelina Jolie also happens to be a Gemini, which Wilton Regan says is compatible with her own air sign.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
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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
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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With the Fourth of July approaching, officials are urging pet owners to take extra precautions.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
In legal filings, Ohio Medicaid warned that recalculating the payments under the court's interpretation could cost about $285 million more per year than lawmakers originally intended, potentially approaching $1 billion over two budget cycles.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 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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Tom accuses me of physically abusing Nick Bilton.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
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Lots of presidents have deported migrants who are here unlawfully, but Trump has made a show of sending some to a foreign prison notorious for abusing inmates.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attacking. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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