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
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
It was created with the help of Caribbean leaders after powerful gangs forced the closure of Haiti's main international airport and targeted key state infrastructure in a series of unprecedented attacks that eventually led former Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Russia continues military attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite diplomatic efforts, complicating peace negotiations as talks resume.
—Katie Marie Davies, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Let’s start with the attacks on science.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
It has been invoked only once - after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
—Reuters, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
The agency was established in 2003 after the 9/11 attacks.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 10 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
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, inflammatory form of arthritis, meaning a person’s immune system attacks their joints, causing substantial inflammation.
—Kevin Deane, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
The virus attacks the liver and can, years later, lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
Luke attacks him, saving their lives.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
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
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
Noun
However, that advice changed after recent attacks – including two in 2023, when a 10-year-old boy was dragged underwater by a dingo before his sister stepped in, and when a woman was attacked despite running into the surf to escape four dingoes.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
It was created with the help of Caribbean leaders after powerful gangs forced the closure of Haiti's main international airport and targeted key state infrastructure in a series of unprecedented attacks that eventually led former Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Russia continues military attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite diplomatic efforts, complicating peace negotiations as talks resume.
—Katie Marie Davies, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Let’s start with the attacks on science.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
It has been invoked only once - after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
—Reuters, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
The agency was established in 2003 after the 9/11 attacks.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 10 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
Verb
Is a taboo crossed when someone attacks?
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, inflammatory form of arthritis, meaning a person’s immune system attacks their joints, causing substantial inflammation.
—Kevin Deane, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
The virus attacks the liver and can, years later, lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
Luke attacks him, saving their lives.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
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
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
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
-
Investors have largely shrugged off bouts of geopolitical brinkmanship, treating recent episodes, including the standoff over Greenland, as noise rather than a lasting risk.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
-
SmackDown’s General Manager Nick Aldis booked a mini-tournament featuring a quartet of singles matches, with the winners of those bouts earning the right to compete in a Fatal 4-Way to determine who would face McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the 2026 Royal Rumble.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 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
-
Winter storm slams the East While Arizona's system is mostly a light-rain and mountain-snow setup, a sprawling winter storm is creating far bigger problems across the eastern half of the country.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Continue reading … 'UNACCEPTABLE' – Prominent Catholic bishop slams anti-ICE agitators who disrupted MN church service.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As their mission approaches, the Artemis 2 astronauts recently entered a pre-mission quarantine to ensure their health and readiness ahead of launch.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Judaism approaches these moments with deep sensitivity, offering guidance not to judge or criticize, but to bring dignity, comfort, and peace—to the soul of the departed and to those left behind.—
Rabbi Moishe Kievman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The report said Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 49 to 230 feet per day in their most prominent offensives.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The report said Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 49 to 230 feet per day in their most prominent offensives.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But her mother guards her fiercely, because even the most minor imbalance in her small, cloistered world could bring the seizures back again.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This is one reason the drug expanded from being used primarily for seizures to becoming a mainstay for nerve pain related to such a wide variety of neuropathic conditions.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That turns out to be a mistake, since a commando team soon storms his island with orders to kill him on sight.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Venita then storms out rather than talk to Salley and confront it.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attacks. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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