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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Russia pounded Kyiv for more than 12 hours in a sixth straight night of attacks, killing at least 12 people including six railway workers and an Indian citizen, and devastating civilian districts. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Despite the recent attacks, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters in Caracas, Venezuela that 17 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the largest amount since the conflict began. — Gordon Lubold, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026

Verb

There was no indication that Kharg Island had actually been attacked, and a senior Iranian oil official ridiculed the claim. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Eight in 10 Americans believe attacking Iran increased the cost of gas and groceries, and a majority disapprove of the war in Iran according to a new UMass Amherst Poll. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attack

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack

Noun

After his discharge, he was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
The Hurtados have continued to experience emotional distress from the assault and its aftermath, according to the lawsuit.

— Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Perhaps cognisant of the last time one of his fighters — fellow British heavyweight Fabio Wardley — was in a similar predicament during his bout against Dubois in May.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
The bout ran eight rounds at two minutes each, contested at a super heavyweight limit of 110 kilograms.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of bout

Verb

Thieves on Thursday raided the Treasure of Villena -- one of the greatest Bronze Age gold collections -- at a museum in the Spanish city of Villena, taking most of the 50-plus mainly gold bracelets, bowls, bottles and other items on display.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Mundubile, who rejected the election result as neither free nor fair, had been in hiding since security forces raided his Lusaka home during the election period.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of raid

Verb

Kenzie Annis clam-slammed her way into Love Island fans’ hearts during season eight of the reality dating show and would love the chance to do it again on Dancing With the Stars.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 31 Aug. 2026
In April, the Biennale art exhibition — run by the Venice Biennale Foundation, which also runs the film festival — was slammed for allowing Russia and Israel to mount shows in their pavilions.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of slam

Verb

While the weather forecast does not project any kind of heat wave this week, temperatures on the surface of the Open’s acrylic-on-asphalt hard courts can approach 120 degrees after hours of direct sunlight.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Tropical Storm Edouard is expected to strengthen and could approach hurricane strength before making landfall.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of approach

Noun

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has sued several states that have tried to treat prediction market sites as a form of gambling, a type of legal offensive the agency has never before embarked on.

— Bobby Allyn, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
More than four decades ago, after months of setbacks in the war against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, thousands of young Iranian troops launched a surprise offensive that turned the tide.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

According to a report from LASD released Tuesday, no arrests were made during the search and seizure and the investigation into the Arcadia business is ongoing.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
The staff immediately gave her magnesium sulfate to prevent her from having seizures.

— Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of seizure

Verb

Such mutinous talk only heightened conservative Justices’ sense that the barbarians were storming the gate.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Young people armed with machetes stormed the site of the funeral, forcing the team to flee and injuring one member, a representative told the Associated Press.

— Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of storm

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“Attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of attack

noun

verb

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