ATTACKS Synonyms: 224 Similar and Opposite Words

attacks 1 of 2

noun

plural of attack

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

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as in bouts

a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder malaria is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever

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attacks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of attack

as in raids

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 slams

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 approaches

to start work on energetically Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm

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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 attacks

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 The attacks are the latest flashpoint in the months-long fight between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 It has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks this year. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 The airstrikes marked the latest in a string of escalating attacks by Russia on Ukraine over the last two weeks. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026 Through the voices of survivors, fire responders, eyewitness testimony and rare video, the project offers viewers a chance to learn more about the attacks and their aftermath from multiple perspectives. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Verb

In humans, the rabies virus, transmitted in the saliva of an infected animal, is a serious and fatal disease that attacks the central nervous system. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The hydrogen peroxide treatment then attacks the remaining dye-cotton linkages and removes residual color. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 The stories of two high schoolers, Jules and Quinn, entwine on May 1, the day a serial killer attacks one of them. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026 Greenidge, an award-winning public historian, refuted all charges, and told the New York Times that attacks on her scholarship were racially motivated. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026 However, when Duffy attacks Marcus during a confrontation with Slough House agents, Louisa hits the chief of the Dogs in the head, leaving him in a coma. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, donning night-vision giggles, Knoxville gleefully attacks them with trash can lids and tasers. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 Yellow-legged hornets, an invasive species that attacks honeybee colonies, have been spotted in North Carolina for the first time. — Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026 Taalas, a Toronto startup that AMD agreed to acquire on Thursday, attacks the problem by deleting it. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attacks

Noun

His defense attorney previously said the assaults were not politically motivated and that DeFoor suffers from mental health issues.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
The strikes marked the sixth straight day of heavy Russian attacks on Kyiv that began last week and are an unprecedented stretch of consecutive aerial assaults since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor more than 4½ years ago.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of assaults

Noun

MomTok is setting the record straight about its latest bouts of drama, including Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette controversy, in the upcoming season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Furthermore, the Television guitarist has been in the ICU seven times, including for two bouts of sepsis, plus for complications in his kidneys and liver.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of bouts

Verb

In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 June 2026

Definition of raids

Verb

In one of the most memorable panels in superherocomic history, Bane, having beaten Batman down in his own Batcave, lifts the hero over his head and slams him down over his knee, breaking his back.

— Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Robin Williams' daughter slams AI videos of her father, urges fans to 'stop doing this'Need a news break?

— Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of slams

Verb

As the stock approaches fair value and its potential gains become more limited, the investor could sell more calls to collect additional income.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
In current, inflated prices, the outturn cost approaches £48–49 billion.

— Interesting Engineering, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of approaches

Noun

However, Iran analysts are highly skeptical that Tehran will prove capable of launching any such large-scale ground offensives any time soon.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Israel’s ongoing offensives have become a wedge issue for Jewish and non-Jewish Americans, leading to protests and raising antisemitism fears and questions about America’s close ties to Israel.

— David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of offensives

Noun

Those with the condition, which was eventually named Minamata disease, had symptoms including tremors, headaches, seizures, vision and hearing problems, ataxia, dysarthria, memory loss, and cognitive decline.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
The staff immediately gave her magnesium sulfate to prevent her from having seizures.

— Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of seizures

Verb

But Danny and Ricky aren’t falling for Russ’ carefree act, and Ricky, unable to take any more of his lies, storms out.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Mars storms the Official Streaming chart with five titles, while one of his most successful collaborations becomes a bestseller again on multiple rosters.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of storms

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

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Synonyms of attacks

noun

verb

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