Attacks and Attacking

verb

• Launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with.
  • usage: "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"
  • synonyms: attack, assail
• Attack in speech or writing.
  • usage: "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker"
  • synonyms: attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault
• Take the initiative and go on the offensive.
  • usage: "The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack"
  • synonyms: attack, aggress
• Attack someone physically or emotionally.
  • usage: "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly"
  • synonyms: assail, assault, set on, attack
• Set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task.
  • usage: "I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed"
  • synonyms: attack
• Begin to injure.
  • usage: "The cancer cells are attacking his liver"; "Rust is attacking the metal"
  • synonyms: attack

adjective

• Disposed to attack.
  • synonyms: assaultive