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
Oren Peleg, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Earlier this week the United Nations blasted Israel over its strikes killing healthcare workers, saying the World Health Organization has recorded 151 such attacks resulting in 103 deaths and 230 injuries.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Russian officials have repeatedly warned that Moscow would take decisive action — including a potential mass strike on Kyiv — if Ukrainian attacks disrupt official events scheduled for Saturday.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
That means that banks and other targets will see more attacks, and that software systems that previously didn't draw as much interest from cybercriminals will now face threats, Harris said.
—Hugh Son,samantha Subin, CNBC, 8 May 2026
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, which investigates hate crimes and attacks on houses of worship, is reviewing the incident, according to a department spokesperson.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Wary of giving off the impression that its actions were being dictated by Kyiv, Russia continued attacks against Ukraine unabated, leading Zelensky to announce that the ceasefire was off.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
Its residents will also be awaiting further attacks, as Ukraine intensifies its campaign to disrupt the Russian oil industry and deprive the Kremlin of crucial funding for its war machine.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026
The war began on February 28, with US and Israeli attacks on Iran triggering retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Sebastian Gorka, the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, said an immediate example would be for other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran attacks commercial shipping.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 6 May 2026
With Graves’ disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
—Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
According to the Mayo Clinic, autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the body's immune system attacks the liver, causing damage.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
How does this Mikey become the Mikey who attacks Richie?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2026
It is considered to be deadlier than HFRS and mostly attacks the lungs.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 5 May 2026
The president frequently attacks the former FBI director because of his role in investigating alleged ties between the president's 2016 campaign and Russia.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Something is wrong at New Hyde, a malevolent devil or monster which attacks patients, including Pepper.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
In recent years, a litany of violent, seemingly unprovoked attacks across Metro led to the deaths or severe injury of several passengers—a confirmation of Angelenos’ worst fears about the system.
—Oren Peleg, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Earlier this week the United Nations blasted Israel over its strikes killing healthcare workers, saying the World Health Organization has recorded 151 such attacks resulting in 103 deaths and 230 injuries.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Russian officials have repeatedly warned that Moscow would take decisive action — including a potential mass strike on Kyiv — if Ukrainian attacks disrupt official events scheduled for Saturday.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
That means that banks and other targets will see more attacks, and that software systems that previously didn't draw as much interest from cybercriminals will now face threats, Harris said.
—Hugh Son,samantha Subin, CNBC, 8 May 2026
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, which investigates hate crimes and attacks on houses of worship, is reviewing the incident, according to a department spokesperson.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Wary of giving off the impression that its actions were being dictated by Kyiv, Russia continued attacks against Ukraine unabated, leading Zelensky to announce that the ceasefire was off.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
Its residents will also be awaiting further attacks, as Ukraine intensifies its campaign to disrupt the Russian oil industry and deprive the Kremlin of crucial funding for its war machine.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026
The war began on February 28, with US and Israeli attacks on Iran triggering retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Verb
Hantavirus is a rare but deadly disease that attacks the lungs and is typically contracted by humans through inhalation of particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of a wild rodent.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Sebastian Gorka, the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, said an immediate example would be for other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran attacks commercial shipping.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 6 May 2026
With Graves’ disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
—Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
According to the Mayo Clinic, autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the body's immune system attacks the liver, causing damage.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
How does this Mikey become the Mikey who attacks Richie?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2026
It is considered to be deadlier than HFRS and mostly attacks the lungs.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 5 May 2026
The president frequently attacks the former FBI director because of his role in investigating alleged ties between the president's 2016 campaign and Russia.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Something is wrong at New Hyde, a malevolent devil or monster which attacks patients, including Pepper.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacks
Noun
-
Ukrainian civilians have endured relentless air assaults since Russia invaded their country more than four years ago.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
Ukrainian civilians have endured relentless air assaults since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Later that evening, three rounds of hail inundated the house, followed by two bouts of whipping winds.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
-
During the competition 10 teams of poets compete in preliminary bouts with the top four teams performing at Finals.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That figure has dwindled to around 3 percent as fewer candidates avail themselves of the money and Congress raids the fund for other things.—
Adam Lashinsky,
Washington Post,
12 Apr. 2026
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Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Now, however, the team behind the new research believes the events are caused when a compact stellar remnant, like a black hole or a neutron star, slams into the universe's hottest class of star, massive stellar bodies called Wolf-Rayet stars.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
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In other words, automatic registration slams the courthouse door on women, but not on men, because registration is its own injury.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Additional storm development is also possible across the Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic as an upper-level system approaches from the west.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
As a courtroom showdown between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively approaches next month, lawyers for the former co-stars continued to hash out key pretrial issues Tuesday before a federal judge.—
Rebecca Keegan,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Oilers won nine series in the last four years and represented the West in unsuccessful offensives against the Florida Panthers in each of the past two Junes.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
The army has retaken territory from ethnic militias, including the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which had launched powerful offensives along with pro-democracy resistance forces in northeastern Myanmar near the Chinese border and in western Myanmar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Amari has epilepsy and is prone to seizures, according to Today.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Without treatment, meningitis can be life-threatening and lead to seizures, hearing or vision loss, fluid buildup in the brain, sepsis and more.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Blanche says on Monday that the noises correspond with the time the suspect allegedly storms the Secret Service security checkpoint on the floor above the ballroom.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attacks. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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