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   attack

   /əˈtak/

   verb

   • 1. take aggressive military action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force: "in February the Germans attacked Verdun" Similar begin an assaultchargepouncestrikebegin hostilitiesambushbombardshellblitzstrafefire on/atrushstormOpposite defend
   • ▪ act against (someone or something) aggressively in an attempt to injure or kill: "a doctor was attacked by two youths" Similar assaultbeatbeat upbatterthrashpoundpummelassailset uponfall uponstrike atlet fly attear intolash out ataggressambushmugpounce oninformal:jumppastedo overwork overknock aboutknock aroundrough uplay intolace intosail intopitch intoget stuck intobeat the living daylights out oflet someone have itset abouthave a go atduff someone upbeat up onlight into
   • ▪ (of a disease, organism, or other agent) act harmfully or destructively on: "Ebola attacks the immune system" Similar affecthave an effect onstrikestrike attake hold ofinfectdamageinjureOpposite protect
   • 2. criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly: "he attacked the government's defence policy" Similar criticizecensurecondemncastigatechastiselambastpillorysavagefind fault withfulminate againstabuseberatereproverebukereprimandadmonishremonstrate withreproachtake to taskhaul over the coalsimpugnharangueblamerevilevilifygive someone a bad pressinformal:knockslamtake to piecespull apartcrucifybashhammerlay intotear intosail intoroastgive someone a roastingcaneblastbawl outdress downrap over the knuckleshave a go atgive someone hellcarpetslateslag offrubbishmonsterrollickgive someone a rollickinggive someone a rockettear someone off a striptear a strip off someonechew outream outpummelcut upbagvulgar slang:bollockgive someone a bollockingdated:ratearchaic:slashrare:excoriateobjurgatereprehendOpposite praise
   • 3. begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way: "a plan of action to attack unemployment" Similar attend toaddresssee todeal withgrapple withconfrontdirect one's attention tofocus onconcentrate onapply oneself tobuckle down toget to work ongo to work onset to work onset aboutget started onundertakeembark oninformal:get stuck intoget cracking onget weaving onhave a crack athave a go athave a shot athave a stab at
   • 4. (in sport) make a forceful attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage against an opposing team or player: British "Crystal Palace attacked swiftly down the left"
   • ▪ move into or be in a position to capture (an opponent's piece or pawn): "the white queen attacks the black rook"
   • 5. (of a reagent or reactive species) approach and interact with (an atom, group, or bond in a molecule), thereby breaking a bond or forming a new bond: "the nucleophile attacks the epoxide from the opposite side of the ring to the oxygen"

   noun

   • 1. an aggressive and violent act against a person or place: "he was killed in an attack on a checkpoint" Similar assaultonslaughtoffensivestrikeblitzraidsortiesallystormingchargerushdrivepushthrustinvasionincursioninroadact of aggressionhistorical:razziaarchaic:onset
   • ▪ destructive action by a disease, chemical, or insect: "the tissue is open to attack by fungus"
   • ▪ a determined attempt to tackle a problem or task: "an attack on inflation"
   • ▪ forceful and decisive style in performing music or another art: "the sheer attack of Hendrix's playing"
   • 2. an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition: "he launched a stinging attack on the Prime Minister" Similar criticismcensurerebukeadmonitionadmonishmentreprimandreprovalcondemnationdenunciationrevilementinvectivevilificationtiradediatriberantpolemicbroadsideharangueverbal onslaughtstrictureinformal:knockingtelling-offdressing-downrap over the knucklesearfulroastingrollickingcaningrocketwiggingslatingticking offcarpetingbashingblastvulgar slang:bollockingdated:ratingrare:philippicOpposite commendationdefence
   • 3. a sudden short bout of an illness or stress: "an attack of nausea" Similar fitseizurespasmconvulsionparoxysmoutburstflare-upboutspelldoserare:access
   • 4. (in sport) an aggressive attempt to score a goal or point or otherwise gain an advantage: "a Cardiff attack broke down inside Llanelli's 22"
   • ▪ the players in a team who are in the position of trying to score a goal or win points: British "Baxter was recalled to the attack"
   • ▪ a threat to capture an opponent's piece or pawn: "the move opens up an attack from the black bishop against White's knight"

   Word Origin early 17th century: from French attaque (noun), attaquer (verb), from Italian attacco ‘an attack’, attaccare ‘join battle’, based on an element of Germanic origin (see attach).

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • T

     1

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • K

     5

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