attack

[ uh-tak ]

verb (used with object)

1. 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.

   Synonyms: charge, storm

   Antonyms: defend

2. to begin hostilities against; start an offensive against:

   to attack the enemy.

3. to blame or abuse violently or bitterly.
4. to direct unfavorable criticism against; criticize severely; argue with strongly:

   He attacked his opponent's statement.

   Synonyms: abuse, oppugn, impugn, censure

   Antonyms: defend

5. to try to destroy, especially with verbal abuse:

   to attack the mayor's reputation.

6. to set about (a task) or go to work on (a thing) vigorously:

   to attack housecleaning;

   to attack the hamburger hungrily.

7. (of disease, destructive agencies, etc.) to begin to affect.

verb (used without object)

1. to make an attack; begin hostilities.

noun

1. the act of attacking; onslaught; assault.

   Synonyms: encounter, onset

   Antonyms: defense

2. a military offensive against an enemy or enemy position.
3. Pathology. seizure by disease or illness:

   an attack of indigestion.

4. the beginning or initiating of any action; onset.
5. an aggressive move in a performance or contest.
6. the approach or manner of approach in beginning a musical phrase.

attack

/ əˈtæk /

verb

1. to launch a physical assault (against) with or without weapons; begin hostilities (with)
2. intr to take the initiative in a game, sport, etc

   after a few minutes, the team began to attack

3. tr to direct hostile words or writings at; criticize or abuse vehemently
4. tr to turn one's mind or energies vigorously to (a job, problem, etc)
5. tr to begin to injure or affect adversely; corrode, corrupt, or infect

   rust attacked the metal

6. tr to attempt to rape

noun

1. the act or an instance of attacking
2. strong criticism or abuse

   an unjustified attack on someone's reputation

3. an offensive move in a game, sport, etc
4. commencement of a task, etc
5. any sudden and usually severe manifestation of a disease or disorder

   a heart attack

   an attack of indigestion

6. the attack
   ball games the players in a team whose main role is to attack the opponents' goal or territory
7. music decisiveness in beginning a passage, movement, or piece
8. music the speed with which a note reaches its maximum volume
9. an attempted rape

Derived Forms

• atˈtacker, noun
• atˈtacking, adjective
• atˈtackable, adjective

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of attack¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier atta(c)que, from Middle French atta(c)quer, from Italian attaccare “to attack”; attach

Word History and Origins

Origin of attack¹

C16: from French attaquer, from Old Italian attaccare to attack, attach, from estaccare to attach, from stacca stake ¹; compare attach

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

In that same year, she said in an interview with CNN that she was "sceptical" that the Syrian regime was behind a chemical weapons attack which killed dozens of people.

From BBC

In a rambling video message posted Thursday morning, Jones called the takeover a “total attack on free speech”.

From BBC

“This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas,” Crusius wrote.

From Salon

His attack in El Paso unfolded four and a half months later.

From Salon

Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

From BBC

Related Words

• aggression
• barrage
• charge
• incursion
• intervention
• intrusion
• invasion
• offensive
• onslaught
• outbreak
• raid
• rape
• skirmish
• strike
• violation