attack

[ uh-tak ]

/ əˈtæk /

SEE 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.

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.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR attack ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR attack

1, 4 defend.

9 defense.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR attack ON THESAURUS.COM

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, 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

Words nearby attack

attachment of earnings, attachment parenting, attachment theory, attaché, attaché case, attack, attack ad, attack dog, attack rate, attagirl, attain

Example sentences from the Web for attack

As soon as this attack [happened], Paris citizens came together to show were are not afraid, we are Charlie Hebdo.

France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers |Nico Hines |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
It was also an attack on our freedom of expression and way of life.

Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead |Luke O’Neil |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Opponents of Muslims and immigrants across the continent are claiming vindication in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack.

Europe’s Islam Haters Say We Told You So |Barbie Latza Nadeau |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
An attack on journalists anywhere is an attack on civil society everywhere.

Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too |John Avlon |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

That is why The Daily Beast stands with Charlie Hebdo and published their controversial covers in the wake of the attack.

Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too |John Avlon |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
It was however evident that the attack was to be immediately expected.

The Rise of the Dutch Republic, Volume III.(of III) 1574-84 |John Lothrop Motley
It is great sport to get the crabs excited, and to see them, scuttling around, ready to attack their foes.

Mpuke, Our Little African Cousin |Mary Hazelton Wade
I felt little alarm about the natives, but I was afraid that some prowling beast might attack him.

In the Wilds of Africa |W.H.G. Kingston
And then his gloomy, cruel disposition would reassume its influence, and he thought of revenging the attack upon his life.

The Pirate |Frederick Marryat
The garrison made a determined resistance at every point of attack.

Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution |L. Carroll Judson

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, 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

noun

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

Derived forms of attack

attackable, adjective attacker, noun attacking, 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

Medical definitions for attack

attack

[ ə-tăk′ ]

n.

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

Other words from attack

at•tack′ v.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

attack

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of attack

SYNONYMS FOR attack

ANTONYMS FOR attack

synonym study for attack

OTHER WORDS FROM attack

Words nearby attack

Example sentences from the Web for attack

British Dictionary definitions for attack

verb

noun

Derived forms of attack

Word Origin for attack

Medical definitions for attack

n.

Other words from attack

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

attack

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of attack

SYNONYMS FOR attack

ANTONYMS FOR attack

synonym study for attack

OTHER WORDS FROM attack

Words nearby attack

Words related to attack

Example sentences from the Web for attack

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for attack

verb

noun

Derived forms of attack

Word Origin for attack

Medical definitions for attack

n.

Other words from attack

British Dictionary definitions for attack