attack

[ uh-tak ]

/ əˈtæk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR attack 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.

Nearby words

Origin of attack

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

SYNONYMS FOR attack

1. storm, charge. 4. censure; impugn, oppugn, abuse. 9. onset, encounter.

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ANTONYMS FOR attack

1, 4. defend. 9. defense.

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Related forms

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

Synonym study

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for attacking

There is a particular focus in the magazine on attacking the United States, which al Qaeda calls a top target.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It drains your body of nutrients and vitamins, attacking the central nervous system and leaving you in a dehydrated, hazy state.
History's Craziest Hangover Cures|Justin Jones|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“When you attack public sector unions now, you are attacking the heart of the U.S. labor movement,” says Dine.
The GOP and Police Unions: A Love Story|Eleanor Clift|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This one, attacking Georgia Democrat John Barrow, is probably touching on a real issue.
The Strangest, Cheesiest, Most Brazenly False Political Ads of 2014|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

At times, it was unclear whether Kasich was attacking such conservatives from the left or the Christian right.
John Kasich: The GOP’s Hobbled 2016 Dark Horse|W. James Antle III|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With a clear sense of his power, he placed bounds on his campaigns: as we saw, he refrained from attacking Egypt.
The History of Antiquity, Vol. III (of VI)|Max Duncker
The fiery Tybalt is for attacking Romeo and his followers then and there.
The Complete Opera Book|Gustav Kobb
Attacking the brain, they warp the judgment, and weaken the power of restraint.
Searchlights on Health: Light on Dark Corners|B.G. Jefferis
Paying no further heed to the attacking giant, he swerved from the assault, caught the trail again, and increased his pace.
Buff: A Collie and other dog-stories|Albert Payson Terhune
Even though it looked like suicide, attacking the tower brought blessed relief.
Planet of the Damned|Harry Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for attacking

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 Formsattackable, 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

Word Origin and History for attacking

attack

c.1600, from French attaquer (16c.), from Florentine Italian attaccare (battaglia) "join (battle)," thus the word is a doublet of attach, which was used 15c.-17c. also in the sense now reserved to attack. Related: Attacked; attacking.

attack

1660s, from attack (v.). Cf. Middle English attach "a seizure or attack" (of fever), late 14c.

Medicine definitions for attacking

attack

[ ə-tăk′ ]

n.

An episode or onset of a disease, often sudden in nature.

Related formsat•tack′ v.

attack

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of attack

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for attacking

attack

verb

noun

Word Origin for attack

attack

attack

attack

n.