Synonyms of attacks

attacks 1 of 2

noun

plural of attack

1

as in assaults

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assaults
• raids
• offensives
• onslaughts
• offenses
• strikes
• aggressions
• attempts
• bombardments
• counterattacks
• rushes
• incursions
• onsets
• blitzes
• invasions
• bombings
• charges
• ambushes
• blitzkriegs
• barrages
• coups de main
• descents
• sieges
• counteroffensives
• ambuscades
• sorties
• counterstrikes
• forays
• sallies
• ravages
• breakthroughs
• air raids
• envelopments
• volleys
• counterassaults
• sacks
• storms
• fusillades
• salvos
• counteraggressions
• cannonades
• pillages
• hails
• whammies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• defenses
• shields
• guards
• resistances
• oppositions
• defensives
• securities
• protections
• shelters

2

as in bouts

a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder

malaria is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bouts
• seizures
• cases
• spells
• sieges
• accesses
• pangs
• fits
• spasms
• turns
• relapses
• recurrences
• convulsions
• breakdowns
• agitations
• frenzies
• paroxysms
• collapses
• throes
• eclampsias
• brainstorms
• prostrations

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• arrests
• reliefs
• remissions

attacks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of attack

1

as in raids

to take sudden, violent action against

our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assaults
• raids
• storms
• strikes
• ambushes
• charges
• robs
• swarms
• turns (on)
• descends (on or upon)
• rushes
• assails
• invades
• jumps (on)
• besets
• sets at
• sets upon
• sets on
• rounds on
• flies at
• goes in (on)
• tears into
• bombs
• pounces (on or upon)
• pitches into
• beats up on
• goes at
• trashes
• bushwhacks
• surprises
• sics
• lights into
• flanks
• mobs
• besieges
• sacks
• ravages
• waylays
• barrages
• blitzes
• nukes
• bombards
• plunders
• gangs up (on)
• cannons
• loots
• batters
• forays
• ambuscades
• buffets
• mugs
• bum-rushes
• pillages
• beleaguers
• cannonades
• harries
• overruns
• plasters
• presses
• envelops
• bangs away (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protects
• shields
• covers
• defends
• secures
• guards

2

as in slams

to criticize harshly and usually publicly

the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slams
• abuses
• insults
• scolds
• blasts
• criticizes
• savages
• assails
• jumps (on)
• curses
• excoriates
• bashes
• ties into
• vituperates
• potshots
• sails into
• harasses
• scathes
• lambastes
• castigates
• trashes
• belabors
• affronts
• beats up on
• reviles
• berates
• harangues
• harries
• slurs
• reprimands
• blasphemes
• lights into
• slanders
• execrates
• disparages
• libels
• belittles
• profanes
• vilifies
• rebukes
• whips
• imprecates
• fulminates
• asperses
• chastises
• bad-mouths
• chides
• lashes (out)
• laces (into)
• blackguards
• traduces
• puts down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praises
• commends
• hails
• compliments
• lauds
• acclaims

3

as in approaches

to start work on energetically

Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• approaches
• tackles
• has at
• dives (into)
• undertakes
• addresses
• tears into
• wades (in or into)
• pursues
• sails into
• falls (to)
• pitches into
• goes at
• focuses (on)
• settles (down)
• concentrates (on)
• buckles (down to)
• faces
• lights into
• plunges (in)
• knuckles down (to)
• pitches in
• zeroes (in on)
• takes up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• evades
• avoids
• shuns
• plays
• lags
• fools
• pokes
• messes
• fiddles (around)
• trifles
• monkeys (around)
• putters (around)
• dawdles
• idles
• dallies
• potters (around)
• dillydallies

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of attacks

Noun

In Congo, where the outbreak has spread to seven provinces, responders have faced attacks on health teams, misinformation about the virus, a failure by locals to report symptoms and rebel violence that has limited access to treatment centers. — Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

The question also raised the recent spread of controversies over individual films into attacks on cast and crew and campaigns to halt screenings. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

In stepping up attacks on tankers transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is threatening the recent precarious rebound in oil exports. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

The spike in diesel has been magnified by Ukrainian attacks on refineries in Russia, one of the world’s top diesel exporters, and export restrictions in China. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Bryant, who identifies as female, did not report the shooter's plans to authorities and conspired with her to broadcast the attacks, authorities allege. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

There are also several cool features, including a self-reset function that automatically detects and resolves connectivity issues, as well as robust security to protect the printer from attacks. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026

In the case of the Ratepayer Protection Act, Republicans were searching for an answer to Democratic attacks on data centers and the higher energy prices consumers fear will come from their construction. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026

The Navy did not specify what role each of those aircraft played in the attacks on the target ship. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

The degenerative disease attacks the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cords. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026

The advertisement, which was released last week, attacks Vang over her attendance record at the meetings of local government bodies including the Sacramento Regional Transit District and Sacramento Transportation Authority. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Some of the most popular entries include SCP-173, a concrete statue that attacks anyone who breaks eye contact, and SCP-682, a supremely intelligent reptile that can adapt to any environment and rapidly heal any injury. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Johnson, a longevity-maxxing advocate, announced in July that he was diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis, a chronic inflammatory condition where the immune system attacks the cells within the stomach lining. — Renée Onque, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

Following the Irish uprising against England in 1917, the British retaliation sees Winston Churchill dispatch a brutal police force to Ireland that attacks civilians and ends with Cork City burned. — Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026

Doctor stabbed to death, wife critically injured after man allegedly attacks them in bed. — FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Here, Rashford attacks the space behind Guehi, with Cunha positioning himself between the lines to complement the run which should stretch the defensive line, but Martinez doesn’t play the ball to either of them. — Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Ronald agrees to a quote that attacks Cooper for allowing violent criminals a second chance, when his son wouldn’t get one. — Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026