Synonyms of attack

attack 1 of 2

noun

1

as in assault

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence

The USS Constitution was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" after its oaken hull successfully withstood a British attack

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assault
• raid
• offensive
• onslaught
• offense
• strike
• aggression
• attempt
• bombardment
• rush
• onset
• counterattack
• blitzkrieg
• blitz
• invasion
• bombing
• incursion
• ambush
• charge
• barrage
• coup de main
• siege
• descent
• counteroffensive
• ambuscade
• breakthrough
• sortie
• envelopment
• volley
• foray
• air raid
• counterstrike
• sack
• sally
• pillage
• counterassault
• flanking
• storm
• counteraggression
• fusillade
• salvo
• hail
• ravage
• cannonade
• whammy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• defense
• guard
• resistance
• opposition
• shield
• protection
• defensive
• security
• shelter

2

as in bout

a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder

malaria is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bout
• seizure
• case
• spell
• siege
• access
• turn
• fit
• spasm
• pang
• recurrence
• relapse
• frenzy
• breakdown
• convulsion
• collapse
• agitation
• eclampsia
• paroxysm
• prostration
• brainstorm
• throe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relief
• arrest
• remission

attack

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈtak 

1

as in to assault

to take sudden, violent action against

our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assault
• raid
• storm
• strike
• ambush
• charge
• rob
• swarm
• set at
• invade
• turn (on)
• assail
• rush
• set on
• descend (on or upon)
• set upon
• beset
• fly at
• jump (on)
• sic
• pounce (on or upon)
• tear into
• go in (on)
• round on
• bushwhack
• pitch into
• flank
• mob
• surprise
• beat up on
• sack
• trash
• bomb
• besiege
• go at
• barrage
• light into
• blitz
• waylay
• nuke
• plunder
• bombard
• ravage
• gang up (on)
• loot
• cannon
• bum-rush
• buffet
• ambuscade
• batter
• pillage
• overrun
• mug
• plaster
• foray
• cannonade
• harry
• press
• envelop
• bang away (at)
• beleaguer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• defend
• secure
• cover
• guard
• shield

2

as in to slam

to criticize harshly and usually publicly

the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slam
• insult
• savage
• abuse
• scold
• blast
• criticize
• assail
• jump (on)
• bash
• harass
• tie into
• excoriate
• vituperate
• sail into
• curse
• potshot
• castigate
• scathe
• lambaste
• beat up on
• trash
• belabor
• berate
• affront
• revile
• blaspheme
• harangue
• light into
• reprimand
• harry
• libel
• disparage
• slander
• slur
• vilify
• belittle
• whip
• execrate
• chastise
• rebuke
• profane
• blackguard
• asperse
• imprecate
• lash (out)
• chide
• fulminate
• lace (into)
• traduce
• put down
• bad-mouth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• commend
• praise
• compliment
• hail
• laud
• acclaim

3

as in to approach

to start work on energetically

Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• approach
• tackle
• undertake
• wade (in or into)
• address
• have at
• dive (into)
• pursue
• tear into
• sail into
• pitch into
• settle (down)
• fall (to)
• concentrate (on)
• focus (on)
• face
• light into
• buckle (down to)
• go at
• plunge (in)
• zero (in on)
• take up
• pitch in
• knuckle down (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• evade
• avoid
• shun
• play
• poke
• lag
• fool
• idle
• trifle
• mess
• fiddle (around)
• dawdle
• monkey (around)
• putter (around)
• potter (around)
• dillydally
• dally

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb attack contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of attack are assail, assault, bombard, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When could assail be used to replace attack?

The words assail and attack are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When might assault be a better fit than attack?

Although the words assault and attack have much in common, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When would bombard be a good substitute for attack?

The synonyms bombard and attack are sometimes interchangeable, but bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When can storm be used instead of attack?

While the synonyms storm and attack are close in meaning, storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of attack

Noun

Oil tankers have repeatedly come under attack throughout the war as the US and Iran continue to vie for control of the critical waterway. — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

The Houthi attacks could reignite Yemen's civil war following a 2022 truce, and open a new front in the Middle East war. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

Three men are charged with attacking a CBS News Chicago crew near the Adler Planetarium at the end of June, before pointing a gun at people in the city's Brighton Park neighborhood before they were arrested. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Nelson knew exactly how to attack Dirk, and that playoff round win was the high point of Nellie’s final NBA head coaching tenure, which ran from 2006 to ‘10. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing attack

• attack dog