random attack
Sudden unpredictable strike
A random attack is an act of violence against a victim selected without apparent reason or prior connection to the attacker.
The term emphasizes unpredictability—the victim wasn't targeted for who they are but simply for being present: Police say the stabbing appears to be a random attack.
News coverage often uses the phrase to distinguish such incidents from crimes with clear motives like robbery or personal vendetta.
- unprovokedWithout prior instigation
- assaultViolent offensive act
- violent crimeOffense involving force or threat
- violenceHarmful physical force
- strangerPerson not yet known
sudden · out of nowhere · sucker punch · victim · innocent bystander · senseless · brutal · strike · mugger · street crime · unpredictable · chaotic · blindside · lash · rampage · frenzy · indiscriminate · spontaneous
- attacksassault, raid, strike, offensive, charge
- stranger crimesmugging, street robbery, street crime, carjacking, purse snatching
- violent crimehomicide, stabbing, shooting, robbery, mugging
random attackhit
Successful contact or strike
contract killing · surgical strike · precision strike · targeted killing · assassination
random attackpremeditated murder
Deliberate, planned killing
conspiracy · coordinated attack · ambush · assassination plot
random attackretaliation
Punitive response to injury
vendetta · revenge killing · reprisal · payback · crime of passion
random, attack, randomly, randomness, randomize, randomized, randomization, attacker, attackers