1
as in to bomb
to use bombs or artillery against the Allies bombarded Germany for a great many months during World War II

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to barrage
to attack with a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once reporters bombarded the company spokesman with sharp questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb bombard contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bombard are assail, assault, attack, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When is assail a more appropriate choice than bombard?

While the synonyms assail and bombard are close in meaning, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When could assault be used to replace bombard?

While in some cases nearly identical to bombard, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When might attack be a better fit than bombard?

The words attack and bombard can be used in similar contexts, but attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When can storm be used instead of bombard?

The meanings of storm and bombard largely overlap; however, storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

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 bombard Amazon has typically used these events to bombard us with new iterations of its products, though its most recent reveal focused on Alexa+. PC Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 So examples of cognitive skills or processes include your ability remember stuff, learn new skills and information, pay attention to other people and your surroundings, speak and listen and process everything that bombards you each and every day. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025 Israel bombarded with missiles. Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 Israel — which has been bombarding the city for days — said 100,000 people had already left, that refugee facilities were being prepared, and that the assault would finally break Hamas. Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bombard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombard
Verb
  • Junta forces have bombed civilians in a bid to suppress rebellious provinces, killing thousands.
    Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
  • If Smith had bombed and Wilson had flourished in Denver, the stakes could have been high for Schneider.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The rest remained silent as Israel was barraged with accusations by fellow classmates.
    Sarah Meira Schlager, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
  • When Murkowski finally appeared on the floor, she was quickly surrounded by Thune, Barrasso, Graham and Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who barraged her on all sides with points and interjections.
    Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • In the hands of editor Richard Mettler, some of those fragments serve montages that interlace how the tribes prepare to defend themselves with the way Jalabzeen readies himself to attack.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Having attacked the edge of the six-yard box, Rodon has to back-pedal and meet the ball, again, wide of the goal.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Although official critics' reviews are under embargo, many journalists flooded social media with their gushing reactions to the movie.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Bayfront Marina was so flooded that the benches of picnic tables were only just above the rising waters.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bombard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombard. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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