ATTACKS Synonyms: 224 Similar and Opposite Words

attacks 1 of 2

noun

plural of attack

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

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as in bouts

a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder malaria is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever

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attacks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of attack

as in raids

to take sudden, violent action against our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg

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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

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as in approaches

to start work on energetically Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of attacks

Noun

According to the independent National Institute for Security Studies in Israel, at least 1,116 people have been killed amid the Israeli attacks in Lebanon since the parallel Iran war began. —

CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has its own navy that also relies on smaller vessels to do swarm attacks and drop mines. —

ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026 But the attacks, though meant to be symbolic, were still dangerous—and reckless. —

Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026 Israel deployed the 162nd Division into southern Lebanon to support efforts to protect its northern border towns from Hezbollah attacks and uproot the militant group, the military said. —

David Rising, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 But Iran's attacks are still choking off oil supplies and raising food and fuel prices far beyond the Middle East. —

Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026

Verb

Mills attacks Platner's past comments This month, the governor returned to Platner's controversial social media posts, triggering an exchange of advertising that has largely overshadowed the Democrats' arguments to defeat Collins. —

Steve Mistler, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026 Oil tanker traffic through the strait has plunged as Iran attacks commercial ships in the Persian Gulf. —

Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026 Symptoms of measles, a virus that attacks the lungs and airways, can include fever, cough, a blotchy rash, and red, watery eyes. —

Andrew Jones, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026 Bifenthrin, which attacks an insect’s nervous system and is considered a possible human carcinogen, was found on strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, collards, celery, bok choy and green beans, according to the report. —

Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026 Patients with myositis, an immune disease that attacks muscle, have shown significant improvements in strength. —

Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026 The Ghostface killer attacks them, leaving two dead, including Lucas, impaled on a sharp beer tap handle. —

Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026 The disease occurs when babies ingest botulism spores that germinate in the intestine and produce a dangerous toxin that attacks the nervous system. —

CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026 The program’s primary purpose is to help diagnose and treat the disease that occurs when babies ingest botulism spores that germinate in the intestine and produce a dangerous toxin that attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis. —

ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacks

Noun

According to state officials, the assaults took place between 2002 and 2008.

— Nick Lentz, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Such units have traditionally been used for missions like large-scale evacuations and amphibious operations that require ship-to-shore movements, including raids and assaults.

— James Legge, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026