attack

[ uh-tak ]

/ əˈtæk /

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See synonyms for: attack / attacked / attacking / attacks on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

to make an attack; begin hostilities.

noun

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR attack

1 storm, charge.

4 censure; impugn, oppugn, abuse.

9 onset, encounter.

See synonyms for attack on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR attack

1, 4 defend.

9 defense.

See antonyms for attack on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of attack

1590–1600; earlier atta(c)que<Middle French atta(c)quer<Italian attaccare to attack, attach

synonym study for attack

1. Attack, assail, assault, molest all mean to set upon someone forcibly, with hostile or violent intent. Attack is the most general word and applies to a beginning of hostilities, especially those definitely planned: to attack from ambush. Assail implies vehement, sudden, and sometimes repeated attack: to assail with weapons or with gossip. Assault almost always implies bodily violence: to assault with intent to kill. To molest is to harass, to threaten, or to assault: He was safe, and where no one could molest him.

OTHER WORDS FROM attack

at·tack·a·ble, adjectiveat·tack·er, nounnon·at·tack·ing, adjectivepost·at·tack, adjective

pro·at·tack, adjectivere·at·tack, verbun·at·tack·a·ble, adjectiveun·at·tacked, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use attack in a sentence

These combos of fire, ice, bombs, magnetism and a swirling, fireworks-filled special attack become especially helpful when dealing with the bigger, meaner enemies at the end of each quest.
‘Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity’: A semi-satisfying new piece of the ‘Zelda’ universe|Harold Goldberg|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Members of his congregation have told him that they no longer want to enter the jungle because tiger attacks have increased.
Asia’s biggest climate migration|Konstantin Kakaes|November 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The example he sets and the stinginess he provides at the point of attack should each help Ayton progress further.
Chris Paul Helped Blake Griffin Shine. Can He Do The Same For Deandre Ayton?|Jared Dubin|November 18, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
It’s not unlikely that a bad actor could attempt to sabotage the availability of a vaccine by stalling or preventing its development, or even its distribution, through a targeted attack.
How bad actors could sabotage a COVID vaccine—and how that can be prevented|jakemeth|November 18, 2020|Fortune

Counting may have taken longer this year because the pandemic dramatically increased the number of mail-in ballots, but the only meaningful difference is that the sitting president is carrying on an unprecedented attack on the results.
How election results get certified|Patrick Howell ONeill|November 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Several Muslim sites in France, including mosques have been attacked or vandalized since the Charlie Hebdo massacre.
Europe’s Islam Haters Say We Told You So|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I have two kids and the last thing we want is to see our kids being attacked in their own homes.
Protesters Demand Justice For Gurley As Gap Grows Between Cops and NYC|M.L. Nestel|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those snakes attacked unwitting passers-by, or invaded homes and hotels.
The Buddhist Business of Poaching Animals for Good Karma|Brendon Hong|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The same night the “dead cops” chant was recorded, two police officers were attacked on the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Certainly, this response would be understandable and even justified if de Blasio had in fact attacked the police.
The NY Police Union’s Vile War with Mayor De Blasio|Michael Tomasky|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They soon retired, however, as the Fort was in danger of being attacked from another side.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
General Houston had attacked them with three hundred of our people, but had not been able to break their ranks.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
The Dutch fleet attacked Burnt island, in Scotland, but were repulsed.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Thereupon the governor attacked him alone, and giving a violent push on the door, opened it.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Washington attacked a French encampment at the confluence of the Alleghany and Monongahela.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for attack

attack

/ (əˈtæk) /

verb

to launch a physical assault (against) with or without weapons; begin hostilities (with)

(intr) to take the initiative in a game, sport, etcafter 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 infectrust attacked the metal

(tr) to attempt to rape

noun

the act or an instance of attacking

strong criticism or abusean 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 disordera 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

Derived forms of attack

attackable, adjectiveattacker, nounattacking, adjective

Word Origin for attack

C16: from French attaquer, from Old Italian attaccare to attack, attach, from estaccare to attach, from stacca stake 1; compare attach

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

attack

OTHER WORDS FOR attack

OPPOSITES FOR attack

Origin of attack

synonym study for attack

OTHER WORDS FROM attack

Words related to attack

How to use attack in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for attack

Derived forms of attack

Word Origin for attack