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- pronunciation:
taek
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
attacks, attacking, attacked |
| definition 1: |
to begin to inflict harm upon.
The cat attacked the mouse.A young man was attacked by thugs in the park last night.The warriors attacked the fortress before dawn.- synonyms:
- assail, assault, raid, storm
- antonyms:
- defend
- similar words:
- annex, bombard, molest, rip into, strike, waylay
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| definition 2: |
to use speech or writing to criticize or injure.
Members of the audience attacked the mayor's budget proposal.The critic attacked the novelist's portrayal of women.- synonyms:
- censure, defame, denounce, disparage, pitch into, slander, vilify
- antonyms:
- praise
- similar words:
- abuse, annex, asperse, badmouth, belittle, blast, calumniate, denigrate, discredit, impugn, insult, lash, rip into, savage
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| definition 3: |
to set upon with vigor.
If we attack this problem with all our brainpower, I'm sure we can solve it.- synonyms:
- pitch into, tackle
- similar words:
- assail, bombard, rip into, waylay
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| definition 4: |
to sexually molest or rape.
- synonyms:
- assault, molest, rape
- similar words:
- assail
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| related words: |
accost, ambush, annex, beset, besiege, blackguard, charge, combat, gang up on, harass, harry, invade, jump, maul, mob, mug, rabble, raid, rush, savage, scorch, storm, trash, violate, visit |
| contrasting words: |
defend |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to make or begin an attack.
The soldiers attacked at dawn.- antonyms:
- defend, retreat
- similar words:
- invade, strike
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| related words: |
descend, harry, lash, raid, rush, tilt, turn, war |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
an act intended to cause harm or distress; offensive action.
The army carried out a surprise attack.- synonyms:
- aggression, assault, charge, denunciation, offensive, onslaught
- antonyms:
- defense
- similar words:
- abuse, air raid, ambush, attempt, blitz, blitzkrieg, censure, defamation, incursion, invasion, offense, onset, put-down, raid, rape, strike, thrust, violence
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| definition 2: |
the onset of an illness or disease.
She suffered a severe attack of pneumonia.- synonyms:
- fit, invasion, paroxysm
- similar words:
- bout, onset, seizure, spell, stroke
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| definition 3: |
the vigorous beginning of an action.
I had a sudden attack of sneezing in church.- synonyms:
- onset, onslaught
- similar words:
- tack, violence
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| definition 4: |
a sexual assault; rape.
The brutal attack caused her lasting emotional damage.- synonyms:
- assault, rape
- similar words:
- violence
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| related words: |
affront, aggression, assault, battery, blast, blow, collapse, convulsion, fit, hostility, operation, outbreak |
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| derivation: |
attacker (n.) |
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