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 That's because trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere into their trunks, within which rings form as the tree grows and supernova radiation bombarding Earth should lead to an increase in radioactive isotopes of carbon in our planet's atmosphere. Robert Lea, Space.com, 13 June 2025 Days later, he was bombarded with more than 100 texts and calls from his ex-wife Erika Sandoval. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 11 June 2025 That last word — relevant — is doing a lot of work in an environment where job seekers are bombarded by scams, outdated listings and ghost recruiters. Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 That proximity has seen the city bombarded throughout Russia's full-scale invasion. David Brennan, ABC News, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bombard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombard
Verb
  • But those threats were beaten back in the last few years of war, and twice last year, Israel got practice rounds bombing Iran following Iranian missile fire.
    Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 June 2025
  • But the Israel-Iran conflict − and Trump's decision to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites − has scrambled the high-stakes meeting as world leaders search for an endgame to the 12-day air war that's killed hundreds of people in Iran and dozens in Israel.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • But, once the accusation spread, Samara was barraged with threats.
    Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Some Republican senators are barraging leadership with concerns about spending cuts for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, while budget hawks are demanding more deficit reduction and railing against a House compromise to lift the cap on state and local tax deductions.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • In a May 2, 2017 text, Ventura was clear with Khorram that Combs allegedly attacked her.
    Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
  • Diddy's alleged reaction to public release of his attack on Cassie Ventura Jane's testimony gave the jury insight into how Diddy reacted when surveillance footage of the rapper attacking Cassie Ventura went public in May 2024.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • As new waves of detainees flooded into the facility over the last two weeks, the staffer said, the facility was chaotic and lacking basic supplies.
    Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
  • The Times story became an immediate sensation, and similar stories flooded news sites everywhere.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bombard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombard. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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