attack

/ə'tæk/
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attack

A dog barks loudly to protect its home from an attack.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • An act of using violence to harm someone or damage something: An aggressive physical action against a person, place, or thing.
    • Strong criticism in speech or writing: A forceful verbal or written criticism of someone or something.
    • The beginning of a harmful process: The onset of a destructive action, such as by a disease, chemical, or natural element.
    • A sudden, short period of illness: A sudden occurrence of an illness or its symptoms.
    • A decisive beginning in music: The way a musical note or phrase is started with energy.
    • A method for solving a problem: Ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation.
    • An offensive action in sports or games: The players or actions focused on scoring, as opposed to defense.

  2. Verb:

    • To use violence to harm or defeat: To begin to fight against or try to damage.
    • To criticize strongly: To speak or write against someone or something in a forceful and critical way.
    • To begin to cause harm or damage: To start to have a harmful effect on something.
    • To start working on something with energy: To begin dealing with a task or problem vigorously.
    • To begin a military offensive: To start hostilities against an enemy.
Examples of Usage

  • Noun:

    • The army launched a surprise attack at dawn.
    • The politician's speech was a fierce attack on government policy.
    • The old bridge is vulnerable to attack by strong winds and salt water.
    • He had a severe attack of asthma.
    • The team's attack was weak in the first half of the game.

  • Verb:

    • The wolves may attack if they feel threatened.
    • Several newspapers attacked the mayor's decision.
    • Termites are attacking the wooden beams of the house.
    • She attacked the pile of paperwork on her desk.
    • The country was attacked by its neighbor.
Advanced Usage
  • "Under attack": Being criticized or physically assaulted.
    • The company's reputation is under attack from the media.
  • "Plan of attack": A strategy for dealing with a problem or task.
    • We need to develop a clear plan of attack for this project.
Variants and Related Words
  • Attacker (n): A person who attacks someone or something.
    • The attacker was arrested by police.
  • Attackable (adj): Able to be attacked.
    • The system's weak security made it easily attackable.
  • Counterattack (n/v): An attack made in response to an opponent's attack.
    • After defending for an hour, the army prepared a counterattack.
Synonyms
  • Assault (n/v): A violent physical or verbal attack.
  • Onslaught (n): A fierce or destructive attack.
  • Criticize (v): To indicate the faults of someone or something in a disapproving way (for the verbal sense).
  • Assail (v): To attack violently or criticize strongly.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Attack someone/something for something: To criticize someone or something strongly for a specific reason.
    • The report attacked the government for its lack of action.
  • Go on the attack: To start attacking or criticizing aggressively.
    • During the debate, the candidate went on the attack against his opponent.
Related Idioms
  • A heart attack: A sudden, serious medical condition where the blood supply to the heart is blocked.
    • He was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack.
  • Attack is the best form of defense: (Proverb) Suggesting that being proactive and offensive is better than being passive and defensive.
    • In the negotiations, they decided that attack is the best form of defense.
attack

A dog barks loudly to protect its home from an attack.

Noun
  1. strong criticism
    • he published an unexpected attack on my work
  2. 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
  3. a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
    • an attack of diarrhea
  4. a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
  5. the act of attacking
    • attacks on women increased last year
    • they made an attempt on his life
  6. 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
  7. intense adverse criticism
    • Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party
    • the government has come under attack
    • don't give me any flak
  8. an offensive move in a sport or game
    • they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning
  9. (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
    • the attack began at dawn
Verb
  1. begin to injure
    • The cancer cells are attacking his liver
    • Rust is attacking the metal
  2. set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task
    • I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed
  3. attack someone physically or emotionally
    • The mugger assaulted the woman
    • Nightmares assailed him regularly
  4. take the initiative and go on the offensive
    • The Serbs attacked the village at night
    • The visiting team started to attack
  5. attack in speech or writing
    • The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
  6. 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

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