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attack

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb attack contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of attack are assail, assault, bombard, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When could assail be used to replace attack?

The words assail and attack are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When might assault be a better fit than attack?

Although the words assault and attack have much in common, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When would bombard be a good substitute for attack?

The synonyms bombard and attack are sometimes interchangeable, but bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When can storm be used instead of attack?

While the synonyms storm and attack are close in meaning, storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

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
Noun
If its conversion from a Type 003 attack submarine into a ballistic missile submarine proves to be successful, its initial operational debut could come within the next six to 12 months. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025 And given that the English top flight jumped above the Bundesliga for the number of direct attacks per game last season, players who can be decisive at speed will continue to command premium prices. Thom Harris, New York Times, 23 July 2025
Verb
In comparison, 675 mail carriers in California were bitten or attacked by dogs in 2022. Sarah Linn july 21, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2025 Ramirez was sentenced in 2020 for attacking a man outside a Whole Foods the previous year, the AP reported, citing a police interview with a Los Angeles TV station. Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 20 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for attack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack
Noun
  • Juggling video calls with his boss (Clark Gregg) and Agent Jeffries (Andrea Savage) in the field, Will tracks Disruptor’s signal, shares the location with his colleagues and monitors the raid in real time.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 30 July 2025
  • In a news release, Abbott invoked President Donald Trump’s deployment of California National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid protests against workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Almost half of Americans (49%) report frequent bouts of stress, and the number of people in the United States who are feeling stressed has been rising for the past two decades, according to a 2024 Gallup survey.
    Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Still, regular bouts of diarrhea may negatively affect health, impacting electrolyte levels and nutrient absorption.
    Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Two 32-year-old men were assaulted and left with minor injuries.
    Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 21 July 2025
  • After the vehicle became disabled, bystanders in the crowd dragged the driver outside the car and began to physically assault them, according to police.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 July 2025
Verb
  • Police slammed one of the women to the ground and swiftly ushered her away in handcuffs.
    Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • Phase 4 In the fourth stage, the body attempts to slam the brakes on starvation by lowering the metabolic rate - like switching on low-power mode to conserve energy.
    Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • Surveillance video appears to show a man in a white shirt — later identified by cops as Mora Nunez — get off the moped and approach them from behind, gun in hand.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025
  • Mills are seeing clients approach the season with a sense of cautious optimism.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • That Israel’s onslaught on Gaza, not much more than an hour down the coastal highways, was still raging, the body count among Palestinians rising by the dozens nearly every day, seemed not to dampen the mood, either.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
  • The new onslaught comes after a bit of a break from last week’s sweltering spate of weather, and Mayor Adams issued a new warning.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 28 July 2025
Noun
  • Boyce died suddenly at the age of 20 in July 2019 after experiencing a seizure in his sleep.
    Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 26 July 2025
  • The lawsuit alleges that ICE agents have been rampantly violating the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • In that way, camp couldn’t be more different than a year ago, before the Broncos stormed to a 10-7 mark and a playoff appearance and nearly doubled the general range of wins that bookmakers pegged them for.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 July 2025
  • The relative said female family members who survived the massacre recalled how militants had stormed the family’s multi-story home early in the morning, prompting the residents to fight back in defense.
    Sarah Dewberry, CNN Money, 22 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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