attack

(noun) (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons). Synonyms: onslaught, onset, onrush. Examples: "The attack began at dawn."

(noun) an offensive move in a sport or game. Examples: "They won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning."

(noun) intense adverse criticism. Synonyms: fire, flak, flack, blast. Examples: "Clinton directed his fire at the republican party." "The government has come under attack." "Don't give me any flak."

(noun) ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation. Synonyms: approach, plan of attack. Examples: "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."

(noun) the act of attacking. Synonyms: attempt. Examples: "Attacks on women increased last year." "They made an attempt on his life."

(noun) a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase. Synonyms: tone-beginning.

(noun) a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition. Examples: "An attack of diarrhea."

(noun) the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent). Examples: "The film was sensitive to attack by acids." "Open to attack by the elements."

(noun) strong criticism. Examples: "He published an unexpected attack on my work."

(verb) launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with. Synonyms: assail. Examples: "Hitler attacked poland on september 1, 1939 and started world war ii." "Serbian forces assailed bosnian towns all week."

(verb) attack in speech or writing. Synonyms: round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault. Examples: "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new house speaker."

(verb) take the initiative and go on the offensive. Synonyms: aggress. Examples: "The serbs attacked the village at night." "The visiting team started to attack."

(verb) attack someone physically or emotionally. Synonyms: assail, assault, set on. Examples: "The mugger assaulted the woman." "Nightmares assailed him regularly."

(verb) set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task. Examples: "I attacked the problem as soon as i got out of bed."

(verb) begin to injure. Examples: "The cancer cells are attacking his liver." "Rust is attacking the metal."