attack
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.
to make an attack; begin hostilities.
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
1synonym study For attack
Other words for attack
Opposites for attack
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use attack in a sentence
Nearly every person, even those unattacked, complained of the enervating effects of the climate.
How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves | W.H.G. KingstonHowever, as none of them wholly abandon that post, it will not be safe to leave it behind me unattacked.
There are at least five different ways of arranging the queens so as to leave eleven squares unattacked.
Amusements in Mathematics | Henry Ernest DudeneyOf the many memory problems as yet unattacked, that of the control of the mental image is one of the most interesting.
Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1 | VariousHe cast about him for something to attack which was not merely powerful or placid, but was unattacked.
George Bernard Shaw | Gilbert K. Chesterton
British Dictionary definitions for attack
/ (əˈtæk) /
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
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
Origin of attack
1Derived forms of attack
- attackable, adjective
- attacker, noun
- attacking, adjective
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
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