Attack Definition
ə-tăk
attacked, attacking, attacks
verb
attacked, attacking, attacks
To set upon with violent force.
American Heritage
To use force against in order to harm; start a fight with; strike out at with physical or military force; assault.
Webster's New World
To make an assault.
Webster's New World
To criticize strongly or in a hostile manner.
American Heritage
To speak or write against, esp. with vigor; criticize, denounce, censure, etc.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- blindside
- criticize
- denounce
- revile
- jump
- mug
- go-for-the-jugular
- pitch into
- tear-into
- lower the boom on
- gang-up-on
- tackle
- lift a hand against
- throw oneself upon
- throw oneself on
noun
attacks
The act or an instance of attacking; an assault.
American Heritage
The act of attacking.
Webster's New World
An expression of strong criticism; hostile comment.
Vicious attacks in all the newspapers.
American Heritage
Any hostile offensive action, esp. with armed forces; onslaught.
Webster's New World
Offensive play, especially in lacrosse.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
adjective
Designed or used for carrying out a hostile or aggressive attack.
A political attack ad.
Webster's New World
Trained to attack on command.
An attack dog.
Webster's New World
Origin of Attack
-
Borrowing from French attaque, derived from the verb attaquer, from Italian attaccare (“to join, attach”) used in attaccare battaglia (“to join battle”). Cognate with Italian attacca and German Attacke.
From Wiktionary
French attaquer from Old French from Old Italian estaccare of Germanic origin
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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