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
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued to launch retaliatory drone and missile attacks across the region, and a clerical body has been working to select the country's next supreme leader.
—Stefan Becket, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The widening war in Iran and the risk of Iranian drone or missile attacks has shut down almost all tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the only sea passage out of Persian Gulf and the conduit for 20% of the world economy’s oil needs.
—David McHugh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The attacks have instigated not just flight restrictions, but closures of swaths of airspace.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
And Iran’s broadening of the war with reckless attacks is likely to turn out to be a major strategic misjudgment on Tehran’s part.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
In 2001, the United States and its allies stormed into Afghanistan, aiming to destroy the Taliban and round up the instigators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
—Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
So far, Iran’s proxies have not carried out retaliatory attacks tied to the strikes against Iran, though that could change.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
Trump has been mulling the attacks for days, amid ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program that had been due to continue next week.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 28 Feb. 2026
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
Symptoms of measles, a virus that attacks the lungs and airways, can include fever, cough, a blotchy rash, and red, watery eyes.
—Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
Dane disclosed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 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
Visitor restrictions began in late December because of a rise in respiratory viruses such as COVID, the flu and RSV, a contagious infection that attacks the respiratory tract.
—Chase Jordan
february 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
Panasiuk delivers linguistic resistance, exposing how war attacks the foundations of speech itself.
—Alex Averbuch, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
Even so, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw fresh drone and missile attacks Saturday morning.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued to launch retaliatory drone and missile attacks across the region, and a clerical body has been working to select the country's next supreme leader.
—Stefan Becket, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The widening war in Iran and the risk of Iranian drone or missile attacks has shut down almost all tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the only sea passage out of Persian Gulf and the conduit for 20% of the world economy’s oil needs.
—David McHugh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The attacks have instigated not just flight restrictions, but closures of swaths of airspace.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
And Iran’s broadening of the war with reckless attacks is likely to turn out to be a major strategic misjudgment on Tehran’s part.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
In 2001, the United States and its allies stormed into Afghanistan, aiming to destroy the Taliban and round up the instigators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
—Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
So far, Iran’s proxies have not carried out retaliatory attacks tied to the strikes against Iran, though that could change.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
Trump has been mulling the attacks for days, amid ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program that had been due to continue next week.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
Symptoms of measles, a virus that attacks the lungs and airways, can include fever, cough, a blotchy rash, and red, watery eyes.
—Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
Dane disclosed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 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
Visitor restrictions began in late December because of a rise in respiratory viruses such as COVID, the flu and RSV, a contagious infection that attacks the respiratory tract.
—Chase Jordan
february 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
Panasiuk delivers linguistic resistance, exposing how war attacks the foundations of speech itself.
—Alex Averbuch, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacks
Noun
-
Over the past year, assaults against ICE personnel have risen 8,000%, according to the DHS, and federal police have opted to hide their faces and identities while working in public.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In 2024, the county recorded 6,323 assaults, of which 205 involved firearms.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Committed to his craft, Munoz-Pederson had traveled as far as Thailand to train in Muay Thai and to New Zealand to find additional bouts.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Zambidis reportedly has 18 world titles and a record of 157-24, give or take a few bouts.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
More news to know now FBI raids Atlanta election facility.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When this valve slams shut, the entire network suffers a mechanical heart attack.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers tested whether a hardy bacterium could endure the crushing pressures generated when a space rock slams into a planet and ejects debris into space.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As totality approaches and the moon dims, binoculars will reveal variations in color and texture.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Still, critics argue the retraction underscores the need for careful reexamination as the agency approaches a 2026 deadline to review glyphosate’s safety.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nation-states now pair kinetic strikes with digital offensives.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Dynamic shifts on the battlefield — with large swaths of Ukrainian land changing hands in offensives and counteroffensives in the early years of the war — have since given way to a conflict of inches.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Symptoms can include difficulty growing and gaining weight, slowed development of motor skills, intellectual disabilities, autistic behaviors and seizures, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.—
Leanne Miller,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But people with a history of severe trauma or post traumatic stress should be cautious, as should people dealing with injuries, joint problems, seizures, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, or psychosis.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Benedict isn’t having it and storms out before Colin even comes back with drinks.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
-
But the deeper wound comes after Bree storms out.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attacks. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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