attack

nouns

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
"the attack began at dawn"
attack, onrush, onset, onslaught
an offensive move in a sport or game
"they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning"
attack
is a type of (narrower)
(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
"it is my turn"; "it is still my play"
play, turn
intense adverse criticism
"Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "the government has come under attack"; "don't give me any flak"
attack, blast, fire, flack, flak
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"
approach, attack, plan of attack
the act of attacking
"attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life"
attack, attempt
a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
attack, tone-beginning
a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
"an attack of diarrhea"
attack
is a type of (narrower)
a cause of great suffering and distress
affliction
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"
attack
is a type of (narrower)
the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality
degeneration, devolution
strong criticism
"he published an unexpected attack on my work"
attack
is a type of (narrower)
disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
"the senator received severe criticism from his opponent"
criticism, unfavorable judgment

verbs

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"
assail, attack
is derived from
attacker
antonym
defend
attack in speech or writing
"The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
assail, assault, attack, lash out, round, snipe
is derived from
attacker
take the initiative and go on the offensive
"The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack"
aggress, attack
is derived from
attacker
attack someone physically or emotionally
"The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
assail, assault, attack, set on
is derived from
attacker
set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task
"I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed"
attack
is derived from
attacker
is a type of (narrower)
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
"We began working at dawn"; "Who will start?"; "Get working as soon as the sun rises!"; "The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia"; "He began early in the day"; "Let's get down to work now"
begin, commence, get, get down, set about, set out, start, start out
begin to injure
"The cancer cells are attacking his liver"; "Rust is attacking the metal"
attack
is derived from
attacker
is a type of (narrower)
act physically on; have an effect upon
"the medicine affects my heart rate"
affect