Word

attack, v.
(attacked, attacking, attacks)
freq. cnt. 44

launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 22 freq. cnt.: 22

assail attack

sample sentences

"Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"
"Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

attack attacker

antonym

defend

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

assailable assailant

semantic pointers

hypernym

fight, struggle, contend

verb group

attack, aggress

hyponym

submarine pepper, pelt strike, hit counterattack, counterstrike gas storm, surprise blitz invade, occupy besiege, surround, hem in, beleaguer, circumvent bomb, bombard strafe cannonade torpedo raid, bust

attack in speech or writing
<verb.communication> freq. cnt.: 9 freq. cnt.: 9

assail assault attack lash out round snipe

sample sentences

"The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

attack attacker

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

assailant

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

assaultive assaulter

semantic pointers

hypernym

criticize, criticise, knock, pick apart

hyponym

abuse, clapperclaw, blackguard, shout claw vitriol rip whang bombard, barrage blister, scald, whip rubbish

take the initiative and go on the offensive
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 8 freq. cnt.: 8

aggress attack

sample sentences

"The Serbs attacked the village at night"
"The visiting team started to attack"

verb frames

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

verb frames

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

attack attacker

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

aggressive aggression aggression aggressor

semantic pointers

hyponym

check fork harass pin tackle

hypernym

act, move

verb group

attack, assail

attack someone physically or emotionally
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 17 freq. cnt.: 7 freq. cnt.: 6 freq. cnt.: 4

assail assault attack set on

sample sentences

"The mugger assaulted the woman"
"Nightmares assailed him regularly"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

assaultive assault assault assaulter

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

assailant

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

attack attacker

semantic pointers

hyponym

bait sic, set bulldog rush blindside savage reassail jump beset, set upon rape, ravish, violate, assault, dishonor, dishonour, outrage desecrate, profane, outrage, violate molest

set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task
<verb.change> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1

attack

sample sentences

"I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

attacker

semantic pointers

hypernym

begin, start, set out, commence, start out, get down, get, set about

begin to injure
<verb.body>

attack

sample sentences

"The cancer cells are attacking his liver"
"Rust is attacking the metal"

verb frames

Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

attacker attack

semantic pointers

hypernym

affect