strafed

Shot from above

Strafed is the past tense of strafe, meaning to attack ground targets with gunfire from low-flying aircraft: Enemy planes strafed the convoy.

The term comes from World War I, derived from a German slogan.

Extended uses describe any sweeping attack or barrage: Critics strafed the proposal from all sides.

aerial

gunfire

Discharge of weapons

machine-gunRapid-fire automatic firearm
airstrikeAircraft-delivered military attack
fighterOne who engages in combat

warplane · aircraft · sortie · dive-bombing · cockpit · fuselage · cannon · rounds · burst · pass

ground

attack

Aggressive act against another

assaultViolent offensive act
barrageSustained, overwhelming attack
firefightExchange of gunfire

ambush · raid · offensive · combat · trenches · frontline · warzone · infantry · engagement · skirmish

movement

swoop

Rapid downward plunge

diveHeadfirst water entry
sweepBrush clean with broom
passMove beyond or decline

hurtle · zoom · whiz · streak · arc · descend · approach · bank · veer · skim

Opposites

military action outcome

strafedmissed

Failed to reach

overshot · passed over · misfired

harm vs. protection

strafedprotected

Kept from harm

shielded · defended · sheltered · covered · guarded

engagement vs. evasion

strafedavoided

Deliberately stayed away from

missed · bypassed · evaded · spared · escaped

Phrases

strafing runLow-altitude aerial assault

Family

strafe, strafing, strafes, strafings

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Rated PG-13