attack

Noun
  1. (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons) (synset 100974725)
    "the attack began at dawn"
    referred to in: armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation
    is a type of: military operation, operation - activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign)
    subtypes:
    • ground attack - an attack by ground troops
    • charge - an impetuous rush toward someone or something
    • banzai attack, banzai charge - a mass attack of troops without concern for casualties; originated by Japanese who accompanied it with yells of `banzai'
    • diversion, diversionary attack - an attack calculated to draw enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack
    • incursion, penetration - an attack that penetrates into enemy territory
    • blitz, blitzkrieg - a swift and violent military offensive with intensive aerial bombardment
    • strike - an attack that is intended to seize or inflict damage on or destroy an objective
    • counterattack, countermove - an attack by a defending force against an attacking enemy force in order to regain lost ground or cut off enemy advance units etc.
    • bombardment, bombing - an attack by dropping bombs
    • fire, firing - the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
    • strafe - an attack of machine-gun fire or cannon fire from a low flying airplane
    • coup de main, surprise attack - an attack without warning
    has: assault - close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
    same as: onrush, onset, onslaught
  2. An offensive move in a sport or game (synset 100458747)
    "they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning"
    is a type of: play, turn - (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
    subtypes: counterattack, counterplay - (chess) an attack that is intended to counter the opponent's advantage in another part of the board
  3. Intense adverse criticism (synset 106724098)
    "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "the government has come under attack"; "don't give me any flak"
    is a type of: criticism, unfavorable judgment - disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
    same as: blast, fire, flack, flak
  4. Ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation (synset 100942956)
    "his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons"; "an attack on inflation"; "his plan of attack was misguided"
    is a type of: conceptualisation, conceptualization, formulation - inventing or contriving an idea or explanation and formulating it mentally
    subtypes: avenue - a line of approach
    same as: approach, plan of attack
  5. The act of attacking (synset 100775311)
    "attacks on women increased last year"; "they made an attempt on his life"
    is a type of: crime, criminal offence, criminal offense, law-breaking - (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
    subtypes: assault - a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
    same as: attempt
  6. A decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase (synset 100237820)
    is a type of: beginning, commencement, start - the act of starting something
    same as: tone-beginning
  7. A sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition (synset 114104857)
    "an attack of diarrhea"
    is a type of: affliction - a cause of great suffering and distress
    subtypes:
  8. The onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent) (synset 113456721)
    "the film was sensitive to attack by acids"; "open to attack by the elements"
    is a type of: degeneration, devolution - the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality
  9. Strong criticism (synset 101223108)
    "he published an unexpected attack on my work"
    is a type of: criticism, unfavorable judgment - disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
    subtypes: aspersion, calumny, defamation, denigration, slander - an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
Verb
  1. Launch an attack or assault on;
    Begin hostilities or start warfare with (synset 201121587)
    "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"
    is a type of: contend, fight, struggle - be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
    subtypes:
    • submarine - attack by submarine
    • pelt, pepper - attack and bombard with or as if with missiles
    • hit, strike - make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target
    • counterattack, counterstrike - make a counterattack
    • gas - attack with gas; subject to gas fumes
    • storm, surprise - attack by storm; attack suddenly
    • blitz - attack suddenly and without warning
    • invade, occupy - march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation
    • beleaguer, besiege, circumvent, hem in, surround - surround so as to force to give up
    • bomb, bombard - throw bombs at or attack with bombs
    • strafe - attack with machine guns or cannon fire from a low-flying plane
    • cannonade - attack with cannons or artillery
    • torpedo - attack or hit with torpedoes
    • bust, raid - search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on
    same as: assail
    verb group: aggress, attack - take the initiative and go on the offensive
  2. Attack in speech or writing (synset 200864347)
    "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
    is a type of: criticise, criticize, knock, pick apart - find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
    subtypes:
    same as: assail, assault, lash out, round, snipe
  3. Take the initiative and go on the offensive (synset 201120867)
    "The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack"
    is a type of: act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
    subtypes:
    • check - place into check
    • fork - place under attack with one's own pieces, of two enemy pieces
    • harass - exhaust by attacking repeatedly
    • pin - (chess) immobilize a piece
    • tackle - seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball
    same as: aggress
    verb group: assail, attack - launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
  4. Attack someone physically or emotionally (synset 201122487)
    "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
    subtypes:
    same as: assail, assault, set on
  5. Set to work upon;
    Turn one's energies vigorously to a task (synset 200348264)
    "I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed"
    is a type of: begin, commence, get, get down, set about, set out, start, start out - take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
  6. Begin to injure (synset 200019785)
    "The cancer cells are attacking his liver"; "Rust is attacking the metal"
    is a type of: affect - act physically on; have an effect upon

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