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

The Kerch road and rail crossing, opened by Putin in 2018, has been the target of previous Ukrainian attacks. —

Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026 The first is Kryla, a compact cruise missile carrying a 50-kilogram warhead designed for saturation attacks. —

Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026 On Thursday, Fire Point displayed videos at its booth showing its drones striking Moscow's Kapotnya district oil refinery, mere hours after the attacks. —

Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 The interim deal has halted hostilities in Iran and the Gulf and reopened the Strait of Hormuz, after Iranian attacks and threats all but stopped the flow of oil and natural gas through the waterway, creating a global energy crisis. —

Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 The important thing is, black bear attacks with people are very, very rare. —

Lauren Linder, CBS News, 19 June 2026 Although our modern fights are different, many of the same underlying issues remain — entrenched biases, efforts to limit women’s roles and rights, attacks on women’s autonomy, and attempts to raise doubts on women’s abilities, especially those of Black women. —

Jocelyn Frye, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026 And, in any case, many legal experts say the boat attacks amount to extrajudicial killings in violation of international law. —

Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026 Investigators say the scheme, which involved two trials for an investigational drug meant to treat asthma attacks, began around February 2019 and continued through 2022, according to Olivera’s criminal information. —

Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026

Verb

Chevalier, who’s running with the vocal support of Mayor Mamdani, attacks Espaillat as being too moderate and a supporter of Israel. —

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026 But what if Iran’s proxy Hezbollah attacks Israel? —

Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 The lawmaker attacks one year ago dramatically changed the tone of the June 2025 No Kings rally at the Minnesota State Capitol. —

Jason Rantala, CBS News, 15 June 2026 Katz added that Israel would retaliate in kind if Iran attacks the country in response to events in Lebanon. —

Anniek Bao, CNBC, 15 June 2026 Botulism is a rare condition that develops when a bacterium, known as Clostridium botulinum, produces a toxin (botulinum toxin) that attacks the body's nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. —

Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026 In a 1998 study published in Toxicon, researchers revealed that the inland taipan’s venom comprises a sophisticated mix of biologically active compounds, each of which attacks multiple physiological systems simultaneously. —

Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 As our thermal model demonstrated, the harsh environment of space steadily attacks the hardware. —

IEEE Spectrum, 11 June 2026 The bodycam footage shows Rivas swimming across the water before an alligator gives chase and attacks him. —

Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacks

Noun

Moscow’s efforts to recruit students for its own expert drone units have been mired in distrust and setbacks, according to Stepanenko, after Russia’s Ministry of Defense committed some drone operators to frontline ground assaults.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Vandalism, assaults and robberies downtown have driven businesses out, and a noticeable lack of police presence makes people reluctant to return.

— Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026