1
as in assaults
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
The USS Constitution was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" after its oaken hull successfully withstood a British attack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bouts
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder
malaria is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in raids
to take sudden, violent action against
our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slams
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 approaches
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 attacks
Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Ukraine's security service said that five rescue workers suffered injuries while responding to the site of ongoing attacks.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The clashes have since descended into an all-out civil war, characterized by ethnic violence, attacks on civilians and atrocities committed by all sides, according to humanitarian groups and foreign governments.
—Byguy Davies, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
Most of the vitriol has been aimed at the UAE, with Emiratis largely exercising restraint — and, unlike the Qatar episode, both are avoiding personal attacks on rulers (or their mothers).
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Trump previously floated the idea of executing attacks on Mexico.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
The facts on coyote attacks on humans Coyotes are generally shy and wary of people.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Just six months ago, Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran for the first time, with Trump raising the prospects of new attacks just last week, days after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Emboldened white men no longer wore masks and increasingly carried out daylight attacks on African Americans.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Russia attacks Ukraine with new Oreshnik ballistic missile Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with a new hypersonic ballistic missile, an advanced weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
The zone-heavy Chargers forced Hurts to beat them by throwing over the middle — a region Hurts attacks half as often as his peers — and Hurts was inconsistent.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Anyone who attacks law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from infection and disease, attacks its own tissues, per the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
—Korin Miller, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026
Our leader never attacks anyone in a position to actually defend themselves or strike back.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Officers euthanized two mountain lions in the area, as CPW policy dictates that wildlife that attacks humans must be euthanized.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
The progressive disease attacks nerve cells that control muscles, robbing people of their ability to walk, talk and eventually breathe.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
The agency was established in 2003 after the 9/11 attacks.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Ukraine's security service said that five rescue workers suffered injuries while responding to the site of ongoing attacks.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The clashes have since descended into an all-out civil war, characterized by ethnic violence, attacks on civilians and atrocities committed by all sides, according to humanitarian groups and foreign governments.
—Byguy Davies, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
Most of the vitriol has been aimed at the UAE, with Emiratis largely exercising restraint — and, unlike the Qatar episode, both are avoiding personal attacks on rulers (or their mothers).
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Trump previously floated the idea of executing attacks on Mexico.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
The facts on coyote attacks on humans Coyotes are generally shy and wary of people.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Just six months ago, Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran for the first time, with Trump raising the prospects of new attacks just last week, days after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Emboldened white men no longer wore masks and increasingly carried out daylight attacks on African Americans.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
According to the Hindu, local eyewitnesses have said that the elephant attacks mostly at night while people are sleeping, and residents have been using firecrackers and patrol teams to keep the animal away from heavily populated areas.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Russia attacks Ukraine with new Oreshnik ballistic missile Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with a new hypersonic ballistic missile, an advanced weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
The zone-heavy Chargers forced Hurts to beat them by throwing over the middle — a region Hurts attacks half as often as his peers — and Hurts was inconsistent.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Anyone who attacks law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from infection and disease, attacks its own tissues, per the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
—Korin Miller, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026
Our leader never attacks anyone in a position to actually defend themselves or strike back.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Officers euthanized two mountain lions in the area, as CPW policy dictates that wildlife that attacks humans must be euthanized.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
The progressive disease attacks nerve cells that control muscles, robbing people of their ability to walk, talk and eventually breathe.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacks
Noun
-
Federal officials have said agents, including those part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are seeing increases in assaults and threats against them.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
-
As in previous years, almost all the assaults on responsible growth management start with the premise that local government leaders can’t be trusted to guide (or even listen to) their own communities.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Not even those who, inspired by occasional bouts of yellow fever, had sure access to fleeting moments of lucidity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
What is guaranteed from this weather setup is occasional bouts of very cold weather.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
-
November raids By mid-November, law enforcement had collected enough evidence to conduct early-morning raids, including on North Carey Street at the home of Shawn Oliver.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Back at the table, Stacey slams Tia for continuing to bring up the issue.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
But dropping the gloves can feel like an exasperating last act born of desperation and hopelessness - a door that slams behind you, leaves you in the dark and seldom reopens.—
Aaron Davis,
Sacbee.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In one clip shared by ABC7's Abigail Velez, a trio of agents approaches a group of people protesting outside of the Santa Ana federal building.—
Greta Bjornson,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Jake follows her to a diner, then approaches her inside.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Decades of military offensives, however, have considerably weakened Abu Sayyaf and other such armed groups, and Philippine military and police officials say there has been no recent indication of any foreign militants in the country's south.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Russian forces are intensifying offensives in Donetsk, expanding long-range strikes on cities and energy infrastructure, and pressing for territorial concessions.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Those seizures have led to years of lawsuits and efforts by the companies to recoup their losses.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In recent years, the DEA presence in Colombia has grown to become the agency’s largest foreign operation, and agents say that has yielded fruit as Colombia has boosted drug seizures and arrests.—
Evan Perez,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rebecca storms off without another word.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Angelica rightly storms out of this conversation and seems determined to give this guy up.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attacks. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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