I. verb
1.
to act in violent opposition
cavalry attacked the Indian camp
Synonyms: aggress, assail, assault, beset, fall (on or upon), storm, strike
Related Word: invade, irrupt; charge, raid, rush; besiege, blockade, encompass, invest; beleaguer, beset, harass, harry, press; turn (on)
Idioms: gang up on, light into, sail into, set upon, take the offensive
Contrasted words: defend, guard, protect, shield; combat, oppose, resist, withstand
2.
to begin to work vigorously (as at a task)
attack a problem
Synonyms: bang away (at), tackle
Related Word: buckle (to or down or down to), fall to, pitch in, wade (in or into)
Idioms: address ( or apply or devote) oneself to, give oneself up to
Contrasted words: dawdle, lag, poke, putter
II. noun
1.
an act of attacking especially in the form of an attempt to injure, destroy, or defame
insecticides that are essential for successful attack on insect pests
Synonyms: aggression, assailment, assault, offense, offensive, onfall, onset, onslaught
Related Word: charge, descent, drive, foray, push, raid, sally, sortie; blitz, incursion, inroad, surprise; action, battle
Contrasted words: championing, justification, protection, support, vindication; opposition, resistance; defending, guarding, protecting, sheltering
Antonyms: defense
2.
action or an attitude in a struggle that calls for or is opposed by defense
his policy had always been one of attack
Synonyms: aggression, aggressiveness, belligerence, combativeness, fight, pugnacity
Related Word: bellicosity, chauvinism, jingoism, warmongering; activation, militarization, mobilization, muster
Contrasted words: submissiveness, yielding
3.
an episode of bodily or mental disorder
a sudden attack of dizziness
Synonyms: access, fit, seizure, spell, throe, turn; compare siege
Related Word: outbreak, paroxysm, spasm; affection, ailment, complaint, disease, disorder