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 Take on some of the tough questions I get bombarded with on college campuses. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 Jason Glenn thought of that last Sunday as his phone was bombarded with messages about his brother dancing down the sideline, gesticulating and vibing with the energy of a sideline gone wild, a celebration earned after his Jets team blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown. Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 Greta Thunberg and her flotilla were bombarded with Abba music after hijackers intercepted their radios, according to reports. Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2025 Even young kids can stumble on these images and videos, especially when something’s trending, or when multiple copies of a video are bombarding the feed, overriding even the most stringent parental controls. Robyn Koslowitz, Parents, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bombard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombard
Verb
  • And this is the same thing all Gazans did after their homes were bombed or damaged.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Israel had just bombed Iran, sparking a nearly two-week war during which 1,200 Iranians and 31 Israelis were killed.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 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 game, Elliott operated as the right ‘No 10’ (attacking midfielder), passing neatly and playing well in a first half that only offered promise in spurts.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • All patients were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy drugs that help the immune system recognize and attack tumor cells more effectively.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But if so, that original dream did not last long in the face of the torrent of money that soon started flooding his way.
    Moisés Naím, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Americans are still flooding into money market funds, despite the the Federal Reserve’s latest campaign to lower borrowing costs.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bombard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombard. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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