English > attack: 15 senses > noun 1, act| Meaning | (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, competition| Meaning | 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, communication| Meaning | 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, competition| Meaning | 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 |
