Synonyms of attacking

attacking

verb

present participle of attack

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

• assaulting
• raiding
• storming
• striking
• robbing
• charging
• ambushing
• swarming
• invading
• assailing
• rushing
• trashing
• siccing
• turning (on)
• descending (on or upon)
• besetting
• flying at
• jumping (on)
• going in (on)
• setting on
• bushwhacking
• setting at
• tearing into
• flanking
• setting upon
• pouncing (on or upon)
• besieging
• going at
• pitching into
• sacking
• bombing
• beating up on
• surprising
• bombarding
• mobbing
• ravaging
• rounding on
• plundering
• blitzing
• waylaying
• mugging
• nuking
• lighting into
• battering
• looting
• barraging
• cannoning
• pillaging
• ganging up (on)
• bum-rushing
• harrying
• buffeting
• overrunning
• beleaguering
• cannonading
• ambuscading
• enveloping
• pressing
• banging away (at)
• plastering
• foraying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protecting
• defending
• covering
• securing
• guarding
• shielding

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

• slamming
• scolding
• abusing
• criticizing
• blasting
• assailing
• insulting
• savaging
• excoriating
• bashing
• harassing
• castigating
• cursing
• scathing
• trashing
• lambasting
• jumping (on)
• tying into
• vituperating
• berating
• sailing into
• belaboring
• potshotting
• harrying
• reviling
• reprimanding
• haranguing
• blaspheming
• slandering
• vilifying
• belittling
• beating up on
• disparaging
• affronting
• whipping
• lighting into
• libeling
• execrating
• chastising
• chiding
• profaning
• slurring
• rebuking
• traducing
• fulminating
• imprecating
• bad-mouthing
• blackguarding
• lacing (into)
• aspersing
• lashing (out)
• putting down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praising
• commending
• complimenting
• hailing
• lauding
• acclaiming

3

as in tackling

to start work on energetically

Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tackling
• approaching
• addressing
• undertaking
• pursuing
• diving (into)
• having at
• wading (in or into)
• going at
• facing
• tearing into
• sailing into
• pitching into
• falling (to)
• focusing (on)
• settling (down)
• concentrating (on)
• buckling (down to)
• lighting into
• plunging (in)
• pitching in
• knuckling down (to)
• zeroing (in on)
• taking up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• evading
• shunning
• playing
• messing
• poking
• fooling
• lagging
• idling
• trifling
• dawdling
• fiddling (around)
• puttering (around)
• dallying
• pottering (around)
• monkeying (around)
• dillydallying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of attacking

Obstructing, impeding, or attacking federal law enforcement is a federal crime. —Wcco Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

What now is the difference between the United States attacking Venezuela in order to install new leadership and Russia invading Ukraine to effect annexation and leadership change? —Arkansas Online, 8 Jan. 2026

Katie Miller, who hosts her own podcast, recently appeared on Piers Morgan’s YouTube show and accused a progressive guest, Cenk Uyger, of attacking her Jewish children by merely having a difference of opinion with her. —Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026

Everything about Tuesday’s performance was crisp, from taking care of the ball to attacking the paint offensively while getting back in transition, rotating and competing on the defensive end. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026

As Frank experimented with different front lines, either due to injuries or lack of attacking chemistry, the 20-year-old remained on the fringes behind Wilson Odobert, Randal Kolo Muani and even Brennan Johnson, who was sold to Crystal Palace for £35million ($47m) on January 2. —Elias Burke, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

In 2020, Jones pleaded guilty to robbery, assault, grand larceny and harassment charges for viciously attacking and robbing two women in the Bronx. —Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026

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

However, much of his campaign continued to focus on attacking opponents. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025