Crossword Dictionary

Attack

attack, assail - v 
launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week" 

wordplays

Synonyms

ambush, assail, assault, beat, besiege, blast, bombard, charge, harm, hit, hurt, infiltrate, invade, raid, stab, storm, strike, advance, aggress, bash, bat, bean, beset, biff, boot, bop, brain, bust, clip, clock, club, combat, cook, jump, kick, larrup, molest, mug, overwhelm, punch, rush, slog, soak, wallop, whop

thesaurus

Examples

The fact is, when wolves attack a herd, they always take the weakest animal.

Those of age to become pages were too old, for the beast twisted their impure hearts and made them attack us.

Our aim is no longer, as it should be, to avoid or attack the enemy, but solely to avoid General Buxhowden who by right of seniority should be our chief.

yourdictionary

Etymology

c. 1600, "assault, assail, begin hostilities against," from French attaquer (16c.), from Florentine Italian attaccare (battaglia) "join (battle)," thus the word is a doublet of attach, which was used 15c.-17c. also in the sense now reserved to attack.

etymonline