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

Electing to keep his No 5 on the field, the Brazil head coach made a subtle tactical tweak that saw Endrick enter the action and brought Matheus Cunha further to the left flank — which unlocked the attacking prowess of Vinicius Junior. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026

In patients with type 1 diabetes, the immune system starts attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 6 July 2026

Mason then shifted momentum, landing a shot that likely broke Bell's nose before attacking the body, forcing Bell to retreat. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

During the match, Colombian supporters celebrated each attacking chance while Ghanaian fans answered with calls of their own. — Latif Love july 4, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026

He is accused of attacking a 27-year-old man with a beer mug inside the Hula Bar on Saturday night. — Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Paraguay wins after a marathon match that saw Germany live in the attacking third for large stretches of the game. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026