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attack

attack

548 3.2
Strong words that criticize someone or something
  • noun
  • /əˈtæk/
translation icon : ataque
  • And I mean, it's just, it's just an attack on law and order.
  • a personal attack
  • come under attack
  • ad hominem attacks

But the cluelessness of her main attack against him was palpable.

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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

fire
vsattack
  • Informal
63 5.7

Strong public criticism directed at someone

is strong criticism that may be less direct or confrontational
slam
vsattack
  • Offensive
34 6.3

An insulting remark meant to hurt someone

is broader strong criticism not limited to a single hurtful remark
bashing
vsattack
  • NSFW
32 4.4

Harsh repeated criticism of a person or their ideas

is strong criticism without the implied repetition or excess
thrust
vsattack
31 6.7

A pointed remark meant to hurt or criticize

is broad strong criticism rather than a brief pointed jab
vitriol
vsattack
  • Offensive
27 9.5

Bitter, angry language that attacks people

is strong criticism without necessarily bitter personal abuse
diatribe
vsattack
23 8.5

A long angry attack in words against someone or something

is strong criticism that lacks the same bitter tone
flak
vsattack
19 5.6

Strong criticism from many people for something you did

is stronger and more aggressive than routine feedback
battering
vsattack
  • NSFW
18 6.5

Repeated violent hitting or strong criticism that causes harm

is strong criticism that may not involve repeated violent force
blast
vsattack
  • Literature
11 6.8

A strong public attack in words on someone or something

is strong criticism not specifically public in delivery
takedown
vsattack
  • Offensive
11 7.7

A sharp remark that humiliates someone in an argument

is strong criticism that may not aim to humiliate or defeat
invective
vsattack
  • Offensive
10 8.8

Angry words that strongly insult someone

is strong criticism that may be impersonal or less abusive
broadside
vsattack
3 8.2

A strong public attack in speech or writing that criticizes someone

is strong criticism not limited to speeches or written form

Antonyms

342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

Idioms

105 3.5

Being hurt physically or strongly criticized by others

Compounds

heart attack
  • Specialized
433 2.0

A sudden serious illness when blood cannot reach the heart

110 3.9

A sudden violent act against civilians to make people afraid and reach political or religious goals

70 4.3

A sudden time of very strong fear with fast heartbeat and trouble breathing

A sudden time of very strong fear with a fast heart and shaking

14 2.5

A sudden time when breathing becomes very difficult and you make a high whistling sound

13 3.7

An attack by military planes on the enemy

A sudden action that begins without warning to catch people not ready

A set of planned actions to solve a problem or reach a goal

8 4.1

A dog trained to attack or guard on command

6 5.5

An attack using bacteria, viruses or poisons to harm people, animals and crops

An attack by soldiers on land against enemy positions

attack submarine
  • Specialized
2 5.5

A military ship that travels under water to find and destroy enemy ships

angle of attack
  • Specialized
2 7.7

The angle between incoming air and a wing's front-to-back line that affects how the wing lifts

attack aircraft
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A fast military plane that hits enemy targets near the ground

1 5.7

A brief time when part of the brain gets too little blood, causing sudden weakness or vision loss

diversionary attack
  • Specialized
1 7.8

An action by soldiers to draw the enemy's attention away from the main battle

A very strong action to defeat an enemy or opponent using the most force

7.8

An attack using germs or poisons to harm people, animals and food supplies

8.1

A big military ship with a long flat deck that carries and launches fighter planes

A mass attack by soldiers who charge without caring if they are killed

A U.S. military kit that turns a regular bomb dropped from a plane into a precise guided bomb

7.3

A move by an army done before an enemy starts to fight to stop them

spack attack
  • Slang
9.9

A sudden burst of anger or energy because of stress

6.7

An official notice that an enemy will attack soon

How Harsh

barrage
35 6.8
attack
548 3.2
criticism
512 3.0
comment
1.0

Surface Forms

attack singular
attacks plural

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.