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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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

Russia set new wartime records for both the scale and pace of its missile attacks on Ukraine in July, according to data released by the Ukrainian Air Force. — Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Shipping vessels have also come under attack in recent weeks, often staffed by crew neither Ukrainian nor Russian. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026

Verb

Onboard processing could also reduce reliance on ground systems, which may themselves be attacked or disrupted. — Martin Halliwell, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Human control and drone swarms The drone strike kits would also enable SkyFall’s Shrike drones to receive future software updates that could enable a single human operator to command an autonomous swarm of drones to attack targets. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attack

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack

Noun

Prosecutors have charged the 15-year-old with one count each of first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

— Joe Kottke, NBC news, 31 July 2026
There was no autopsy — only a physical examination that showed no evidence of defensive wounds or assault.

— Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Dehydration from frequent bouts of diarrhea can also cause severe illness.

— Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Steven Rodgers, a political science professor at Saint Louis University, said local dynamics will influence the race as much as national trends, noting that a lot of the issues framing the election are largely the same as during their previous bout.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of bout

Verb

After he was elected, Wu and other council members were invited to participate in an interview at Su’s studio on San Bernardino Road in West Covina, the same building that was raided by the FBI last week.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Ever since, the couple have been through it all, from winter storms that dumped many inches of snow to ravens raiding their nest and eating their eggs.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Definition of raid

Verb

And, on March 4, 2022, a mysterious rocket body slammed into the moon, blasting out a weird double crater.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026
But according to rocket scientists at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), slamming a nuclear warhead directly into the side of a space rock is a rookie mistake.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of slam

Verb

With the rise of modern conservatism in the ’70s and ’80s, Main said influential figures on the right began to approach politics as war.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
In 2006, an associate of Leto’s approached a 17-year-old backstage at a Thirty Seconds to Mars concert and took her phone number for the musician, then 34.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2026

Definition of approach

Noun

Palantir has gone on the offensive to combat the narrative, arguing that the AI models from Silicon Valley companies don’t perform as well and steal customers’ private data (an argument that the other companies dispute).

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Israel's military offensive in Gaza has since killed 73,375 people, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of offensive

Verb

Earlier this year, a gunman from California stormed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and exchanged fire with Secret Service agents before being subdued.

— Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Esports is becoming big business in the Gulf and celebrations were in order when Abu Dhabi's Nigma Galaxy team stormed to the Esports World Cup Dota 2 quarter-finals in Paris, winning nine out of ten matches.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of storm

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“Attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of attack

noun

verb

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More from Merriam-Webster on attack

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

colloquial

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

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Games & Quizzes