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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of attack
Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
Following this arrest, however, further investigation connected him to attacks on 11 other male victims.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Drone incursions, sabotage and the vulnerability of nuclear reactors to attack are turning Europe into a dangerous flashpoint.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for attack
Noun
The missile types used in the attack, which began Thursday night, included 22 cruise, 13 ballistic and one medium-range ballistic, according to the Air Force.
—Verb
And Pahlavi’s inability—or unwillingness—to control supporters who attack non-monarchist dissidents has fractured what should be a united front.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack
Noun
-
Federal officials have said agents, including those part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are seeing increases in assaults and threats against them.—
-
However, after his conviction on assault and harassment charges, Marvel dropped him from future projects.—
Noun
-
After a bout of severe weather and tornadoes crossed Oklahoma on Thursday, the Sooner State will likely see more cold and precipitation into the week ahead.—
-
McGlynn said Clifton's death was also caused by advanced Alzheimer’s disease, severe frailty, and a recent bout of pneumonia.—
Verb
-
Prosecutors said that in December 2024, Mexican authorities raided multiple fentanyl production labs across Sinaloa that were allegedly controlled by the father and son and made the world’s largest ever fentanyl seizure, which totaled more than 3,300 pounds of the ultra-potent drug.—
-
The attackers who raided Kasuwan-Daji arrived from the National Park Forest along Kabe district, according to the police, pointing to a usual trend where abandoned expansive forest reserves act as hideouts for armed gangs.—
Verb
-
Allen later slammed his right hand into the helmet of right guard O’Cyrus Torrence after releasing the ball.—
-
Trump had repeatedly slammed Powell for cost overruns tied to the renovation.—
Verb
-
But videos captured by other observers and members of the public show an ICE agent approaching a Honda Pilot that was stopped on a snowy road and ordering the driver — later identified as Good — to open the door before grabbing the handle.—
-
How the Overtown museum came about Some years ago, Marilyn Holifield, co-founder of the museum and a partner in Holland & Knight, approached me about creating a museum featuring Overtown’s history, combined with art and technology.—
Noun
-
That’s with a 44 percent offensive-zone starting percentage.—
-
David Ellison launched his WBD offensive shortly after closing the Paramount Skydance merger in August with a trio of unsolicited offers for the entire company, all rejected.—
Noun
-
After the seizure, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected Russian demands for special treatment of the Marinera’s crew during her regular briefing Wednesday.—
-
The seizure struck Saturday afternoon.—
Verb
-
Seattle stormed back to tie it in the third, any notion that the Wild were going to be happy with a road point was quickly dispelled.—
-
The Stars have now lost six straight games (0-3-3) after getting battered Tuesday night by those same Hurricanes that Colorado stormed back against three days prior.—
Cite this Entry
“Attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share