Thesaurus

attacking

verb , present participle of attack

Synonyms and Antonyms of attacking

1 to take sudden, violent action against

our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg

Synonyms of attacking

assailing, assaulting, besetting, bushwhacking, charging, descending (on or upon), going in (on), jumping (on), pouncing (on or upon), raiding, rushing, setting on, siccing (also sicking), storming, striking, trashing, turning (on)

Words Related to attacking

bum-rushing, ganging up (on), mobbing, swarming

mugging, robbing

ambuscading, ambushing, surprising (also surprizing), waylaying

blitzing, bombarding, bombing, nuking

barraging, cannonading, cannoning

banging away (at), battering, buffeting, plastering

beleaguering, besieging, pressing

harrying, looting, pillaging, plundering, ravaging, sacking

foraying, invading, overrunning

enveloping, flanking

Phrases Synonymous with attacking

beating up on, flying at, going at, lighting into, pitching into, rounding on, setting at, setting upon, tearing into

Near Antonyms of attacking

covering, defending, guarding, protecting, securing, shielding

2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly

the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted

Synonyms of attacking

abusing, assailing, bashing, belaboring, blasting, castigating, excoriating, jumping (on), lambasting, potshotting, savaging, scathing, slamming, trashing, vituperating

Words Related to attacking

berating, haranguing, harassing, harrying, reviling, scolding, whipping

blaspheming, cursing, execrating, imprecating, profaning

affronting, insulting, slurring

aspersing, bad-mouthing, belittling, blackguarding, disparaging, putting down

libeling (or libelling), slandering, traducing, vilifying

chastising, chiding, criticizing, lacing (into), rebuking, reprimanding

fulminating, lashing (out)

Phrases Synonymous with attacking

beating up on, lighting into, sailing into, tying into

Near Antonyms of attacking

acclaiming, commending, complimenting, hailing, lauding, praising

3 to start work on energetically

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

Synonyms of attacking

diving (into), tackling, wading (in or into)

Words Related to attacking

addressing, approaching, facing

buckling (down to), concentrating (on), focusing (on) (also focussing (on)), knuckling down (to), zeroing (in on)

falling (to), pitching in, plunging (in), settling (down)

pursuing, taking up, undertaking

Phrases Synonymous with attacking

going at, having at, lighting into, pitching into, sailing into, tearing into

Near Antonyms of attacking

avoiding, evading, shunning

dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, fiddling (around), fooling, idling, lagging, messing, monkeying (around), playing, poking, pottering (around), puttering (around), trifling

Learn More about attacking

Nglish: Translation of attacking for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of attacking for Arabic speakers

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Thesaurus

attacking

Synonyms and Antonyms of attacking

Learn More about attacking

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