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

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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 More is more Meta’s goal at Connect this year is to bombard everyone with options. — Victoria Song, The Verge, 23 Sep. 2026 We get bombarded with f---ing advice about how to be and how to be perceived. — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026 Carole seems good-natured about answering questions but also acknowledges that she’s been bombarded by them. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026 It has been seen all too often in which stars are bombarded with requests at hotels and at airports. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bombard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombard
Verb
  • But few could have anticipated just how badly the film would bomb.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The Associated Press LONDON -- Two Iranian men conducted surveillance of a Manchester synagogue that was the site of a deadly attack a year ago as part of a plot to bomb it this year, a prosecutor said Saturday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But Mark, in Ronson’s telling, quickly grows antagonistic, abruptly asking Ronson to sign an NDA, then later barraging him with suspicious texts and threatening him with a pair of goons.
    — Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The Weather Channel radar shows Lake County getting barraged with rain.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The recent success of a late-stage mRNA cancer vaccine, showing the drug stopped the return of melanoma, has boosted hopes that the approach can be successfully harnessed to attack other cancers.
    — Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In Ohio, Husted has been repeatedly attacked for his role in attracting data centers to Ohio as lieutenant governor.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Nowhere was that fact clearer than after each concert in the casino where rivers of black Metallica T-shirts flooded the pit.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
  • But suddenly everything will change, and clouds will come in, and in 10 to 15 minutes, rain will start and flood everywhere.
    — William Earl, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bombard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombard. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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