SET ON Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

set on

verb

Definition of set on

as in to assault

to take sudden, violent action against without warning, bandits would set on unwary merchants as they traveled along the Silk Road

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for set on

Verb

The woman, who was the only person found in the vehicle, had been assaulted by the shooting suspect, sheriff’s officials said, and the two men left the vehicle.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
No one in Cathy’s family seems to know she was assaulted, but for us, that information contextualizes her now-twisted understanding of her own looks and sexuality.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of assault

Verb

An official of Congo's ruling party UDPS, Marie-Célestin Karondwa, was attacked by unknown suspects Sunday for defending the government's measures against Ebola on a radio program and was in critical condition, according to the UDPS.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
Additionally, the agents were apparently not instructed to attack or compromise the UN website.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

Cyrus, who becomes an administrator of veterans’ benefits, leaves his sons such large sums that Charles (Mike Faist) concludes that the old man must have raided his agency’s funds.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
Eleven current and former Ford Heights officials are facing 79 felony charges after investigators raided the Village Hall on Thursday to execute a search warrant.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of raid

Verb

The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, after passengers stormed the cockpit and wrenched back controlfrom the attacker, who Israeli officials suspect was trying to crash the plane.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Like magic, upon the proclamation, arm lift, and beat drop, pouring rain storms down upon the audience.

— Miki Hellerbach, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of storm

Verb

Harris was driving a 2014 Buick Enclave south near Sandy Ridge Road when the vehicle crossed the center line and left the roadway, striking the guardrail, becoming airborne and overturning, the report says.

— Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
Shots also struck the wall of a nursery their small children were in.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of strike

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“Set on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20on. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of set on

verb

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