attack
to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, or aggressive way, with or without a weapon; begin fighting with: He attacked him with his bare hands.
to begin hostilities against; start an offensive against: to attack the enemy.
to blame or abuse violently or bitterly.
to direct unfavorable criticism against; criticize severely; argue with strongly: He attacked his opponent's statement.
to try to destroy, especially with verbal abuse: to attack the mayor's reputation.
to set about (a task) or go to work on (a thing) vigorously: to attack housecleaning;to attack the hamburger hungrily.
(of disease, destructive agencies, etc.) to begin to affect.
to make an attack; begin hostilities.
the act of attacking; onslaught; assault.
a military offensive against an enemy or enemy position.
Pathology. seizure by disease or illness: an attack of indigestion.
the beginning or initiating of any action; onset.
an aggressive move in a performance or contest.
the approach or manner of approach in beginning a musical phrase.
Origin of attack
1synonym study For attack
Other words for attack
Opposites for attack
Other words from attack
- at·tack·a·ble, adjective
- at·tack·er, noun
- non·at·tack·ing, adjective
- post·at·tack, adjective
- pro·at·tack, adjective
- re·at·tack, verb
- un·at·tack·a·ble, adjective
- un·at·tacked, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use attack in a sentence
However, tradition overwhelmed the legal victory, and she sadly succumbed to the intense pressure to marry her attacker.
Well, the truth is Bill Cosby is a lot of things, just like he always was—including, possibly, a sex attacker.
She had been choked unconscious and very likely would have died had a passerby not scared away her attacker.
The woman identified Matthew as her attacker and police interviewed him.
Alleged U.Va. Abductor Accused of Rape at Christian College | Michael Daly | September 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Afghan Defense Ministry said simply that the attacker was a man wearing an Afghan army uniform.
The man kicked him ferociously in the breast before the attacker managed to pinion the legs in his arms.
Blow The Man Down | Holman DayThe attacker is looking at his target with his eye (the top prism of the periscope) only a few inches above water-level.
The Story of Our Submarines | John Graham BowerThe Pomona kept upon her course, while the white sails of the attacker grew fainter and fainter upon the horizon.
Famous Privateersmen and Adventurers of the Sea | Charles H. L. JohnstonThis time the unknown ducked his knobby head at the attacker.
The Skipper and the Skipped | Holman DayThe lunge is so rapid that when I have observed it, I have been unable to discern whether the attacker bit its opponent.
British Dictionary definitions for attack
/ (əˈtæk) /
to launch a physical assault (against) with or without weapons; begin hostilities (with)
(intr) to take the initiative in a game, sport, etc: after a few minutes, the team began to attack
(tr) to direct hostile words or writings at; criticize or abuse vehemently
(tr) to turn one's mind or energies vigorously to (a job, problem, etc)
(tr) to begin to injure or affect adversely; corrode, corrupt, or infect: rust attacked the metal
(tr) to attempt to rape
the act or an instance of attacking
strong criticism or abuse: an unjustified attack on someone's reputation
an offensive move in a game, sport, etc
commencement of a task, etc
any sudden and usually severe manifestation of a disease or disorder: a heart attack; an attack of indigestion
the attack ball games the players in a team whose main role is to attack the opponents' goal or territory
music decisiveness in beginning a passage, movement, or piece
music the speed with which a note reaches its maximum volume
an attempted rape
Origin of attack
1Derived forms of attack
- attackable, adjective
- attacker, noun
- attacking, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse