ATTACK Synonyms: 219 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

attack 1 of 2

noun

Definition of attack

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

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as in bout

a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder malaria is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever

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attack

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈtak

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

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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

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as in to approach

to start work on energetically Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm

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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

The bigger Russian military’s air superiority during the war has made aerial attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine routine. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 When another attack splinters the small town of Pikeville, Charlotte — now a lawyer like her father — is the first witness on the scene. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Verb

We were attacked by these kids with cameras in this little side street to the bar. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026 Nunes told a detective that the women attacked Mendez upstairs, held him down and used tape, towels and other items to cover his nose and mouth and suffocate him, the newspaper reported. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attack

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack

Noun

The University of Arizona has suspended activities at its fraternities following persistent reports of misconduct, including assault, hazing and drug and alcohol-related behavior, a university official said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Fleming was received from Los Angeles County in 2019 to serve a 42-year sentence for second-degree robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

— Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Blanca Ortiz has cycled through bouts of sadness, anxiety and anger ever since her husband was detained by federal immigration agents five months ago.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
The Vegas residency was originally scheduled to begin last February but was repeatedly postponed as the singer battled the cancer and previous bouts of bronchitis.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of bout

Verb

The Pussycat on Biscayne Boulevard near 79th Street in Miami was raided by police 18 times between 1978 and 1987.

— David Goodhue October 9, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
On Thursday, October 8, a judge ruled that the search warrants the Thames Valley Police used to raid Andrew’s homes were unlawful.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of raid

Verb

Earlier this month, 51-year-old Ryo Uchimiya, a chef at the famous Japanese restaurant Nobu, was parked on the side of the road waiting for his morning shift when a 16-year-old in a Range Rover slammed into him and killed him.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
When an area on the ground is hit by the eyewall, it will be buffeted by intense winds, then get a break before being slammed by the other side of the eye in a second round of the storm's strongest winds.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of slam

Verb

Built in 1965 and 1970, respectively, the vessels are approaching the limits of their service lives.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Warm air will quickly surge in on Tuesday out of the southwest ahead of another approaching trough and its associated low pressure and cold front.

— Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of approach

Noun

Those are good defenses, but that stat is borderline offensive.

— Mac Engel October 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2026
Forces loyal to the UAE also appear to be taking part in the offensive, a sign of at least a partial thaw between the kingdom and the UAE.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

Last week, federal agents in Miami announced the seizure of more than 600,000 gallons of biodiesel at Port Everglades and Port Houston heading to Cuba.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
In the decade of violent conflicts that followed, attacks on border towns and seizures of American property by revolutionaries and bandits prompted the United States to send two military expeditions into Mexico.

— Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of seizure

Verb

The next day, the Colombian Army stormed the Palace and retook it, resulting in the deaths and disappearances of at least 94 people, including justices, guerrilla members, civilians and military personnel.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
The two businesses, collectively known as CTU, recruited the Colombian commandos who were supposed guarding Sanon in Haiti but later stormed Moïse’s hillside residence above Port-au-Prince in the middle of the night.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of storm

Cite this Entry

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“Attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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verb

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