Synonyms for attack

Noun

1. attack, onslaught, onset, onrush, operation, military operation

usage: (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn"

2. attack, affliction

usage: a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition; "an attack of diarrhea"

3. fire, attack, flak, flack, blast, criticism, unfavorable judgment

usage: intense adverse criticism; "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "the government has come under attack"; "don't give me any flak"

4. attack, attempt, crime, law-breaking

usage: the act of attacking; "attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life"

5. attack, turn, play

usage: an offensive move in a sport or game; "they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning"

6. attack, degeneration, devolution

usage: the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent); "the film was sensitive to attack by acids"; "open to attack by the elements"

7. approach, attack, plan of attack, conceptualization, conceptualisation, formulation

usage: ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation; "his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons"; "an attack on inflation"; "his plan of attack was misguided"

8. attack, tone-beginning, beginning, start, commencement

usage: a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase

9. attack, criticism, unfavorable judgment

usage: strong criticism; "he published an unexpected attack on my work"

Verb

1. attack, assail, fight, struggle

usage: launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"

2. attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault, knock, criticize, criticise, pick apart

usage: attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"

3. attack, aggress, act, move

usage: take the initiative and go on the offensive; "The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack"

4. assail, assault, set on, attack

usage: attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"

5. attack, get down, begin, get, start out, start, set about, set out, commence

usage: set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task; "I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed"

6. attack, affect

usage: begin to injure; "The cancer cells are attacking his liver"; "Rust is attacking the metal"