English > attack: 15 senses > noun 1, actMeaning | (military) an offensive against an enemy / enemy (using weapons). |
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Example | "the attack began at dawn" |
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Synonyms | onslaught, onset, onrush |
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Category | military, armed forces, armed services, military machine, war machine | The military forces of a nation |
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Parts | assault | Close fighting during the culmination of a military attack |
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Narrower | banzai attack, banzai charge | A mass attack of troops without concern for casualties |
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blitz, blitzkrieg | A swift and violent military offensive with intensive aerial bombardment |
bombing, bombardment | An attack by dropping bombs |
charge | An impetuous rush toward someone or something |
counterattack, countermove | An attack by a defending force against an attacking enemy force in order to regain lost ground or cut off enemy advance units etc. |
diversion, diversionary attack | An attack calculated to draw enemy / enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack |
fire, firing | The act of firing / firing / firing weapons or artillery at an enemy / enemy |
ground attack | An attack by ground troops / troops |
penetration, incursion | An attack that penetrates into enemy territory |
strafe | An attack of machine-gun fire or cannon fire from a low flying airplane |
strike | An attack that is intended to seize or inflict damage on or destroy an objective |
surprise attack, coup de main | An attack without warning |
Broader | operation, military operation | Activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign) |
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Spanish | arremetida, asalto, ataque |
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Catalan | assalt, atac, envestida, escomesa |
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Verbs | attack | launch an attack or assault on |
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attack | take the initiative and go on the offensive |
English > attack: 15 senses > verb 1, competitionMeaning | launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare / warfare with. |
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Pattern | Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody |
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Example | "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II" |
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Synonym | assail |
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Narrower | besiege, beleaguer, surround, hem in, circumvent | Surround so as to force to give up |
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blitz | attack suddenly and without warning |
bombard, bomb | Throw bombs at or attack with bombs |
cannonade | attack with cannons or artillery |
counterattack, counterstrike | make a counterattack |
gas | attack with gas |
invade, occupy | march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation |
pepper, pelt | attack and bombard with or as if with missiles |
raid, bust | Search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on |
storm, surprise | attack by storm |
strafe | attack with machine guns or cannon fire from a low-flying plane |
strike, hit | make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target |
submarine | attack by submarine |
torpedo | attack or hit with torpedoes |
Broader | contend, fight, struggle | Be engaged in a fight |
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Opposite | defend | Be on the defensive |
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Similar to | attack, aggress | Take the initiative and go on the offensive |
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Spanish | agredir, asaltar, atacar |
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Catalan | agredir, assaltar, atacar |
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Nouns | attack | (military) an offensive against an enemy / enemy (using weapons) |
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attacker | someone who attacks |
English > attack: 15 senses > verb 2, communicationMeaning | attack in speech or writing. |
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Pattern | Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something |
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Example | "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" |
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Synonyms | round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault |
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Narrower | abuse, clapperclaw, blackguard, shout | Use foul or abusive language towards |
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blister, scald, whip | subject to harsh criticism |
bombard, barrage | Address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage |
claw | attack as if with claws |
rip | criticize or abuse strongly and violently |
rubbish | attack strongly |
vitriol | subject to bitter verbal abuse |
whang | attack forcefully |
Broader | knock, criticize, criticise, pick apart | find fault with |
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Spanish | agredir, atacar |
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Catalan | agredir, atacar |
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Nouns | attack | intense adverse criticism |
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attacker | someone who attacks |
English > attack: 15 senses > verb 4, competitionMeaning | attack someone physically or emotionally. |
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Pattern | Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody |
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Synonyms | assail, assault, set on |
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Entailed by | hold up, stick up | rob at gunpoint or by means of some other threat |
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Narrower | bait | attack with dogs or set dogs upon |
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beset, set upon | assail or attack on all sides |
blindside | attack or hit on or from the side where the attacked person's view is obstructed |
bulldog | attack viciously and ferociously |
desecrate, profane, outrage, violate | violate the sacred character of a place or language |
jump | make a sudden physical attack on |
molest | harass or assault sexually |
rape, ravish, violate, assault, dishonor, dishonour, outrage | Force (someone) to have sex against their will |
reassail | assail again |
rush | attack suddenly |
savage | attack brutally and fiercely |
sic, set | urge to attack someone |
Spanish | agredir, asaltar, atacar, violar |
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Catalan | agredir, assaltar, atacar, violar |
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Nouns | attack | the act of attacking |
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attacker | someone who attacks |