Thesaurus results for BOMBARD

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

bombard

verb

bäm-ˈbärd

Definition of bombard next

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

Relevance

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

Synonym Chooser

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 Its surface is continually being bombarded by energetic particles trapped in Jupiter’s magnetic field, which can break different organic molecules apart at different rates. —

Gideon Yoffe, The Conversation, 29 May 2026 We are so externally bombarded by information, sound and news. —

Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 25 May 2026 Anyone streaming or watching television in California over the last few months has been bombarded with political ads. —

Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026 Since then, the United States has remained the predominant military backer and arms supplier of the Gulf states, which host various American air and naval forces in large bases throughout the region that Iran bombarded during this latest war. —

Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bombard

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombard

Verb

The year was anything but easy for Divac, though, with NATO beginning to bomb his native Serbia late in the season.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
Oil prices rose around 3% after the Pentagon said the United States bombed Iranian military sites, retaliation for Tehran's shooting down of an American drone.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 June 2026