attack
Charge at fiercely
A dependable feature of any attack, whether it’s used as a noun or verb, is that it’s typically intended to hurt (attack on a city, attack someone’s character).
When applied to disease, it refers to a sudden and acute episode: She had a sports-induced asthma attack.
A variety of attack that doesn’t hurt can be musical (she attacked Beethoven’s Fifth) or intellectual (attack a problem).
Causing displeasure or attack-oriented
- assaultViolent offensive act
- invasionForcible entry into territory
- raidSudden armed incursion
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
onslaught · blitzkrieg · incursion · sortie · ambush · charge · advance · breach
Judge unfavorably, vocally
- denouncePublicly declare wrongdoing
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
assail · disparage · vilify · lambaste · berate · blast · slam · roast
Violent offensive act
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- pummelStrike repeatedly with fists
- thrashBeat violently or defeat utterly
- mugHandled cup for beverages
overpower · pounce · wallop · bludgeon · clobber · maul · kick · choke
Forceful impact or stoppage
- picketPointed fence stake
- walkoutProtest by leaving
- boycottOrganized economic protest
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
slowdown · stoppage · work-to-rule · lockout · industrial action · union · solidarity · collective bargaining
Serialized content unit
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- fitProper or healthy
- onsetStarting point of something
- spellArrange letters correctly
bout · flare-up · paroxysm · stroke · cardiac · panic · asthma · anxiety
Sudden forward movement
- thrustForceful forward motion
- parryDefensive blade deflection
- riposteSwift clever reply
- feintDeceptive mock attack
touché · advance · retreat · engagement · blade · point · foil · épée
Tined eating tool
- skewerPointed cooking rod
- pinPointed metal fastener
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- discoveredFound something previously unknown
double · gambit · tempo · initiative · checkmate · threat · tactic · combination
offensive
Causing displeasure or attack-oriented
siege · onslaught · blitzkrieg · incursion · sortie · ambush · charge · advance · breach · infiltration
criticize
Judge unfavorably, vocally
- denouncePublicly declare wrongdoing
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
rebuke · assail · disparage · vilify · lambaste · berate · blast · slam · roast · ridicule
assault
Violent offensive act
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- pummelStrike repeatedly with fists
- thrashBeat violently or defeat utterly
mug · overpower · pounce · wallop · bludgeon · clobber · maul · kick · choke · stab
strike
Forceful impact or stoppage
protest · slowdown · stoppage · work-to-rule · lockout · industrial action · union · solidarity · collective bargaining · dispute
episode
Serialized content unit
spell · bout · flare-up · paroxysm · stroke · cardiac · panic · asthma · anxiety · angina
lunge
Sudden forward movement
feint · touché · advance · retreat · engagement · blade · point · foil · épée · saber
fork
Tined eating tool
discovered · double · gambit · tempo · initiative · checkmate · threat · tactic · combination · pressure
attackdefense
Protection against harm
defence · defend · protect · protection · retreat
- heart attackBlocked blood to muscle
- panic attacksAcute fear episodes
- shark attackMarine predator assault
- plan of attackMethod for achieving goals
- surprise attackUnanticipated offensive strike
- under attack
attach, attachment, attacked, attacker, attacking, attacks, counterattack, attackers, attackable