Attacking — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ə-ˈtak/ (verb) /ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌtak/ (noun) at·tack

Meaning & Definition of Attacking

Attacking (verb)

  1. to set upon or work against forcefully
  2. to assail with unfriendly or bitter words
  3. to begin to affect or to act on injuriously

Attacking (noun)

  1. an attack made in response to or in defense against an attack made by another

Attacking (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take sudden, violent action against

    "our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg"

    similar: assailing, assaulting, besetting, bushwhacking, charging, descending (on or upon), going in (on), jumping (on), pouncing (on or upon), raiding, rushing, setting on, siccing, storming, striking, trashing, turning (on), beating up on, flying at, going at, lighting into, pitching into, rounding on, setting at, setting upon, tearing into
    related: bum-rushing, ganging up (on), mobbing, swarming, mugging, robbing, ambuscading, ambushing, surprising, waylaying, blitzing, bombarding, bombing, nuking, barraging, cannonading, cannoning, banging away (at), battering, buffeting, plastering, beleaguering, besieging, pressing, harrying, looting, pillaging, plundering, ravaging, sacking, foraying, invading, overrunning, enveloping, flanking
    near: covering, defending, guarding, protecting, securing, shielding

  2. to criticize harshly and usually publicly

    "the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted"

    similar: abusing, assailing, bashing, belaboring, blasting, castigating, excoriating, jumping (on), lambasting, potshotting, savaging, scathing, slamming, trashing, vituperating, beating up on, lighting into, sailing into, tying into
    related: berating, haranguing, harassing, harrying, reviling, scolding, whipping, blaspheming, cursing, execrating, imprecating, profaning, affronting, insulting, slurring, aspersing, bad-mouthing, belittling, blackguarding, disparaging, putting down, libeling, slandering, traducing, vilifying, chastising, chiding, criticizing, lacing (into), rebuking, reprimanding, fulminating, lashing (out)
    near: acclaiming, commending, complimenting, hailing, lauding, praising

  3. to start work on energetically

    "Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm"

    similar: diving (into), tackling, wading (in or into), going at, having at, lighting into, pitching into, sailing into, tearing into
    related: addressing, approaching, facing, buckling (down to), concentrating (on), focusing (on), knuckling down (to), zeroing (in on), falling (to), pitching in, plunging (in), settling (down), pursuing, taking up, undertaking
    near: avoiding, evading, shunning, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, fiddling (around), fooling, idling, lagging, messing, monkeying (around), playing, poking, pottering (around), puttering (around), trifling

Related Entry: Attack (verb)

Attack is a different word from Attacking. The synonyms below are for attack, not for attacking.

  1. to take sudden, violent action against

    "our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg"

    similar: assail, assault, beset, bushwhack, charge, descend (on or upon), go in (on), jump (on), pounce (on or upon), raid, rush, set on, sic, storm, strike, trash, turn (on), beat up on, fly at, go at, light into, pitch into, round on, set at, set upon, tear into
    related: bum-rush, gang up (on), mob, swarm, mug, rob, ambuscade, ambush, surprise, waylay, blitz, bomb, bombard, nuke, barrage, cannon, cannonade, bang away (at), batter, buffet, plaster, beleaguer, besiege, press, harry, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, foray, invade, overrun, envelop, flank
    near: cover, defend, guard, protect, secure, shield

  2. to criticize harshly and usually publicly

    "the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted"

    similar: abuse, assail, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste, potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate, beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into
    related: berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip, blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane, affront, insult, slur, asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down, libel, slander, traduce, vilify, chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, fulminate, lash (out)
    near: acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

  3. to start work on energetically

    "Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm"

    similar: dive (into), tackle, wade (in or into), go at, have at, light into, pitch into, sail into, tear into
    related: address, approach, face, buckle (down to), concentrate (on), focus (on), knuckle down (to), zero (in on), fall (to), pitch in, plunge (in), settle (down), pursue, take up, undertake
    near: avoid, evade, shun, dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool, idle, lag, mess, monkey (around), play, poke, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Related Entry: Counterattack (noun)

Counterattack is a different word from Attacking. The synonyms below are for counterattack, not for attacking.

  1. an attack made to counter an enemy's attack

    "suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack"

    similar: counterassault, counteroffensive, counterpunch, counterstrike
    related: sally, sortie, blitzkrieg, charge, assault, attack, offensive, onslaught

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Attacking

The most common words with a similar meaning to Attacking:

assailing, assaulting, besetting, bushwhacking, charging, descending (on or upon), going in (on), jumping (on), pouncing (on or upon), raiding, rushing, setting on, siccing, storming, striking, trashing, turning (on), abusing, bashing, belaboring, blasting, castigating, excoriating, lambasting, potshotting, savaging, scathing, slamming, vituperating, diving (into), tackling, wading (in or into), beating up on, flying at, going at, lighting into, pitching into, rounding on, setting at, setting upon

Related Words for Attacking

bum-rushing, ganging up (on), mobbing, swarming, mugging, robbing, ambuscading, ambushing, surprising, waylaying, blitzing, bombarding, bombing, nuking, barraging, cannonading, cannoning, banging away (at), battering, buffeting, plastering, beleaguering, besieging, pressing, harrying, looting, pillaging, plundering, ravaging, sacking

Near Antonyms of Attacking

covering, defending, guarding, protecting, securing, shielding, acclaiming, commending, complimenting, hailing, lauding, praising, avoiding, evading, shunning, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, fiddling (around), fooling, idling, lagging, messing, monkeying (around), playing, poking, pottering (around), puttering (around), trifling

Word Forms of Attacking

Inflections: attacked, attacks, counterattacks, counter-attacks

Derived words: attacker (noun), counterattack (verb, transitive + intransitive), counterattacker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Attacking

Middle French attaquer, from Old Italian *estaccare to attach, from stacca stake, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English staca

First known use: circa 1576t

Frequently Asked Questions about Attacking

What does "Attacking" mean?

"Attacking" means to set upon or work against forcefully. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to set upon or work against forcefully. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Attacking"?

Other words for "Attacking" include assailing, assaulting, besetting, bushwhacking, charging, descending (on or upon), going in (on) and jumping (on). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Attacking" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Attacking"?

There are 126 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Attacking". Common alternatives include assailing, assaulting, besetting, bushwhacking, charging, descending (on or upon), going in (on), jumping (on), pouncing (on or upon) and raiding.

How do you use "Attacking" in a sentence?

Examples of "Attacking" in a sentence: "our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg"; "the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted"; "Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm".

Is "Attacking" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Attacking" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Attacking"?

"Attacking" is pronounced /ə-ˈtak/ as a verb and /ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌtak/ as a noun and divided into syllables as at·tack.

What is the origin of the word "Attacking"?

"Attacking" comes from Middle French attaquer, from Old Italian *estaccare to attach, from stacca stake, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English staca. First known use: circa 1576t.

What is another word for "Attacking" meaning "to take sudden, violent action against"?

When "Attacking" (verb) means to take sudden, violent action against, synonyms include assailing, assaulting, besetting, bushwhacking, charging and descending (on or upon).