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
Should a bad actor be interested in damaging vaccine distribution, they could stage an attack on the temperature control systems in place.
How bad actors could sabotage a COVID vaccine—and how that can be prevented | jakemeth | November 18, 2020 | FortuneThe attacks could result in delayed development of these desperately needed vaccines or in the theft of vaccine-related data.
Hackers are trying to disrupt and steal COVID-19 vaccine research | Aaron Pressman | November 13, 2020 | FortuneHartmann, and many cybersecurity experts, believe it’s only a matter of time before an attack against hospitals causes such a tragedy.
Ransomware did not kill a German hospital patient | Patrick Howell ONeill | November 12, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewMurray says he’s “scared to death” about the possibility of contracting the coronavirus because he’s at high risk due to a COPD diagnosis and his past heart attack.
Researchers captured microscope images of an attack in the meninges of mice that was led by plasma cells that had likely been trained in the guts.
Protecting the brain from infection may start with a gut reaction | Aayushi Pratap | November 11, 2020 | Science News
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 | THE DAILY BEASTIt drains your body of nutrients and vitamins, attacking the central nervous system and leaving you in a dehydrated, hazy state.
"Perry" chimed in: "They don't want to take blame," he said of the police union attacking De Blasio.
Justice League Vigil for Slain NYPD Officers Asks Whose Life Matters | Olivia Nuzzi | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe then dons a Spider-Man costume and savagely starts attacking criminals.
Exclusive: Sony Hack Reveals Studio's Detailed Plans For Another ‘Spider-Man’ Reboot | William Boot | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“When you attack public sector unions now, you are attacking the heart of the U.S. labor movement,” says Dine.
A full third of the attacking force lay on the ground, dead or grievously wounded.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. DunnThe attacking guns threw heavier shot and had a longer range than the Spanish artillery.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanBruce taunted them for attacking with arrows, three to one, and they chivalrously threw down their bows and drew their swords.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. MurisonThe insurgents were under cover the whole time, and their assembled thousands could hardly be seen by the attacking columns.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanWe have had fighting enough, Heaven knows, but we felt that by ‘doing’ he meant ‘attacking,’ not ‘defending.’
The Red Year | Louis Tracy
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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