Synonyms of bombard

bombard

verb

bäm-ˈbärd 

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

• bomb
• attack
• shell
• batter
• blitz
• blitzkrieg
• ravage
• cannonade
• assault
• assail
• hit
• strafe
• pound
• rake
• devastate
• enfilade
• strike

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

• barrage
• flood
• bomb
• interrogate
• question
• examine
• harass
• inundate
• annoy
• pester
• pump
• quiz
• grill
• query
• cross-examine
• debrief
• hound
• catechize

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

Recent Examples of bombard

Ohioans are getting bombarded with Republican ads on tax cuts, but the message is falling flat with many voters who feel the weight of higher prices. — Jarrell Dillard, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026

Go a little deeper All this diplomatic whiplash comes as Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with drone and missile strikes, killing hundreds of civilians in September alone and leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power. — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 20 Oct. 2026

Throughout the war, Russia has repeatedly bombarded Ukraine’s Black Sea and Danube river ports, leaving Kyiv increasingly reliant on alternative routes to get its grain exports to markets in Africa and the Middle East. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Writers are also being bombarded with offers to publish our next book, market our book, handle social media for us, represent us as agents, and get us book-to-movie deals with Netflix and Paramount. — Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026

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