attack
485
3.2
- noun
- /əˈtæk/
- And I mean, it's just, it's just an attack on law and order.
- a personal attack
- come under attack
- ad hominem attacks
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Watch on YouTubeBut the cluelessness of her main attack against him was palpable.
- But the cluelessness of her main attack against him was palpable.
- And I mean, it's just, it's just an attack on law and order.
- You know, that is a direct attack on free speech.
- Sometimes those kind of pointed intelligent attacks are the best.
- But what really struck me was the ruthless attacks on the Republicans.
- But what I find so interesting is this complete attack on drag Queens.
- Being passive aggressive, giving someone the silent treatment, going on the attack, judging them.
- And that sometimes those attacks can hurt because people would just mock me.
- So the attack back, the clap back.
Examples
-
The appointment was interpreted as a frontal attack on the autonomy of the army.
Academic text (1991) -
The senator faced an attack from the opposition for her controversial remarks.
-
You know, that is a direct attack on free speech.
-
So each of these attacks is, I find very educational.
-
This feels like an attack on me, but just stay curious.
-
An attack on the government would therefore be an attack on the revolution and the nation.
Academic text (1991) -
I think that the attack was just appalling.
-
We believe both these bills are an attack on the Latino populations in these states.
Academic text (2008) -
The Indian Express framed the imposition of the Emergency as an attack on free speech.
Academic text (2017) -
As soon as the protests started there, China's censors began an unprecedented attack on social media.
Academic text (2015)
Synonyms
70
5.7
Strong public criticism directed at someone
48
4.4
Harsh repeated criticism of a person or their ideas
24
9.5
Bitter, angry language that attacks people
23
6.7
A pointed remark meant to hurt or criticize
23
8.5
A long angry attack in words against someone or something
21
5.6
Strong criticism from many people for something you did
10
8.8
Angry words that strongly insult someone
9
6.5
Repeated violent hitting or strong criticism that causes harm
8
6.3
An insulting remark meant to hurt someone
5
7.7
A sharp remark that humiliates someone in an argument
4
6.8
A strong public attack in words on someone or something
4
8.2
A strong public attack in speech or writing that criticizes someone
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
- NSFW
192
3.9
A sudden violent act against civilians to make people afraid and reach political or religious goals
16
2.5
A sudden time when breathing becomes very difficult and you make a high whistling sound
- NSFW
9
5.5
An attack using bacteria, viruses or poisons to harm people, animals and crops
- Specialized
2
5.5
A military ship that travels under water to find and destroy enemy ships
- Specialized
2
7.7
The angle between incoming air and a wing's front-to-back line that affects how the wing lifts
- Specialized
1
5.7
A brief time when part of the brain gets too little blood, causing sudden weakness or vision loss
- Specialized
1
8.6
A U.S. military kit that turns a regular bomb dropped from a plane into a precise guided bomb
- Specialized
1
7.8
An action by soldiers to draw the enemy's attention away from the main battle
- Specialized
1
8.1
A big military ship with a long flat deck that carries and launches fighter planes
- NSFW
1
7.8
An attack using germs or poisons to harm people, animals and food supplies
How Harsh
Surface Forms
Etymology
Attack comes from an old idea of 'attaching' or 'setting on' someone, which makes it easy to see why an attack can mean a strong verbal or written assault where someone is sharply criticised.