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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 attack is also not the first time cyber incidents have disrupted food systems. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Oct. 2026 The defense ministry faces difficult choices in distributing the existing systems with so many installations vulnerable to attack, according to a Saudi source. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 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

Mace and Bryant were not yet engaged at the time of the October 2018 assault.

— MEG KINNARD, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
On Tuesday, the DA’s Office charged Gonzalez with assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, elder abuse, vandalism and battery.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 14 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

In January, the FBI raided a Post reporter’s home, as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of mishandling sensitive national security information.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Authorities on Wednesday raided the headquarters of one of Turkey ’s few broadcasters not aligned with the government, and appointed a trustee manager to oversee the popular news channel as part of an investigation into alleged corruption.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of raid

Verb

Modeling work suggests the duo will keep orbiting our star for millions of years before ultimately slamming into either Earth or Venus.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Kim Bruno Espinosa slammed ICE at the press conference and accused the agency of misidentifying the man with Parra.

— Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of slam

Verb

With the presidential elections approaching next April, political parties are scrambling to position themselves in relation to a protest movement that has shown no sign of abating.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
As seen from Planet 2, Planet 1 will appear to approach on the inside lane, slow down, move to the outside lane and then fall away once again.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of approach

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

Why burn down the Limoges city hall, the tourist office in Lyon, storm the Marseille city hall, or attack the prefect’s residence in Bordeaux?

— Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
The flow of money from Qatar into Gaza has taken on new significance since October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed southern Israel, murdered some 1,200 people, and took 251 more hostage.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of storm

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“Attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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verb

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