attack

n.

1. Offensive tactical action

   assault, raid, onslaught, advance, charge, thrust, lunge, offense, drive, strike, aggression, offensive, onset, irruption, outbreak, offensive military operation, push, storming, assailment, broadside, volley, sally, coup de main (French), shooting, barrage, bombardment, fusillade, cannonade, siege, firing, trespass, blockade, boarding, cross-fire, assailing, initiative, invasion, incursion, forced entrance, intrusion, intervention, increased presence, onrush, inroad, encroachment, counterattack.

   Types of military attack include: commando raid, air strike, air raid, blitzkrieg, charge, sortie, foray, counterforce, siege, bombardment, bomb run, invasion, infiltration, encirclement, wave, pincer movement, strafing, fire mission, firing pass, low-level attack, mast-level attack, kamikaze, suicide attack, atomic thrust, nuclear armored thrust, torpedo attack, mechanized attack, amphibious landing, depth charge, shelling, banzai charge, mortar attack.

   Antonyms withdrawal, retreat*, defense. *

2. Verbal attack

   libel, slander, denunciation, censure; see blame 1.

3. Illness

   seizure, fit, bout, relapse; see fit 1, illness 1.

4. Physical assault

   assault, mugging, rape; see crime 2, rape.

attack

v.

1. To fight offensively; used of an army

   assault, strike, invade, storm, advance, beset, besiege, beleaguer, infiltrate, take offensive action, raid, assail, encircle, march against, take the initiative, take the offensive, charge, fire at, shoot at, snipe at, come at, run at, shell, ambush, take by surprise, sally forth, make a push, bombard, bomb, go over the top, fall on, fall upon, burst upon, fire the first shot, fan out, mushroom out, lay siege to, open fire, bear down on, swoop down on, launch an attack, spring on, advance on, turn on, strafe, waylay, aggress, engage, tilt against, set upon, torpedo, stone, fire at, fire on, push, combat, attempt violence to, trespass against, launch an offensive, mount an offensive, begin hostilities against, take up arms against, rush, fusillade, barrage, strike the first blow, counterattack, enfilade, bayonet, saber, stab, pelt, blitz, pounce on, close with*, pepper*, rake*, light into*, sail into*, go for*, have at*, open up on*, let have it*.

   Antonyms retreat*, fall back*, defend. *

2. To assault; used of an individual

   assault, assail, combat, knock down, seduce, rape, punch, kick, molest, beat, hit, overwhelm, kidnap, strike, club, stab, knock unconscious, throw oneself on, throw oneself upon, lift a hand against, tackle, fly at, lay into*, tear into*, pitch into*, gang up on*, lower the boom on*, go for the jugular*, mug*, jump*; see also sense 1.

   Antonyms retaliate*, resist*, fight back. *

3. To assail with words

   revile, denounce, criticize, blindside*; see censure.

4. To proceed vigorously

   take up, deal with, set to work, start in on, undertake, come to grips with, set to, buckle down, tackle, plunge into*, dive into*, wade into*, tear into*.

attack implies vigorous, aggressive action, whether in actual combat or in an undertaking to attack a city, to attack a problem; assail means to attack by or as if by repeated blows or thrusts assailed by reproaches; assault implies a sudden, violent attack or onslaught and suggests direct contact and the use of force; beset implies an attack or onset from all sides beset with fears; storm suggests a rushing, powerful assault that is stormlike in its action and effect; bombard means to attack with artillery or bombs, and in figurative use suggests persistent, repetitious action to bombard a speaker with questions