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

Spain’s front men are difficult to ignore Despite only one attacking return, Lamine Yamal ($10m) is still Spain’s most exciting fantasy option. — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 July 2026

With control of a device, the hackers then use it as an exit node when probing or attacking targets in the communications, defense, energy, financial services, and government sectors. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026

After France knocked out Paraguay in this year’s World Cup, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla launched her own racist tirade attacking Mbappé and his national identity. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 13 July 2026

But after the new health plan became active in January, Smith said, Blackman faced one hurdle after another getting approval for the antirejection medications needed to prevent his body from attacking his transplanted heart. — Renuka Rayasam, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026

Two years on and France is widely regarded to have been the most impressive team of this World Cup with a dizzying array of attacking talent and the joint leading scorer in Mbappé ahead of the semifinal on France’s Bastille Day. — James Robson, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Norway finally managed to apply some pressure in the attacking third, leading to a loose ball dribbling in the box. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 July 2026

Aguirre replaced Mora and goal-scorer Julián Quiñones, bringing on an attacking lineup that focused on sending in crosses, which the English defense easily cleared. — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 12 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