- attack
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 violence against sbADJECTIVE▪ brutal, frenzied, horrific, savage, serious, vicious, violent▪ unprovoked▪
Stephen had died in an unprovoked racist attack.
▪ homophobic, racist▪ arson, gun, knife▪an increase in knife attacks on police officers
▪ sexual… OF ATTACKS▪ series, spate, waveVERB + ATTACK▪ carry out▪Two teenagers carried out a frenzied attack on a taxi driver.
▪ be subjected to▪He was subjected to a violent attack.
▪ block, dodgeATTACK + VERB▪ happen, occur, take place▪Where did the attack happen?
PREPOSITION▪ attack against▪vicious attacks against senior citizens
▪ attack by▪an attack by an armed gang
▪ attack on▪an attack on a bus driver
PHRASES▪ a victim of an attack2 act of violence in warADJECTIVE▪ all-out, full-scale, major▪ sustained▪ deadly, devastating▪ horrific▪ sneak, surprise▪the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor
▪ retaliatory▪ pre-emptive▪The administration may launch a pre-emptive attack against terrorist bases.
▪ mock▪ direct, flank, frontal▪ enemy, guerrilla, insurgent, terror, terrorist▪ suicide▪ air, bomb, missile, mortar, nuclear, rocket▪ biological, chemical… OF ATTACKS▪ series▪The border towns have suffered a series of attacks.
VERB + ATTACK▪ carry out, launch, lead, make, mount, spearhead▪The soldiers mounted an all-out attack on the town.
▪ come under, suffer▪They came under sustained attack from the air.
▪ repel, repulse, resist▪ prevent, stop▪ survive, withstand▪Most of the population would stand little chance of surviving a nuclear attack.
▪ press (esp. AmE), press home (esp. BrE), renew▪Bombers renewed their attack, causing severe damage to bridges.
▪ planATTACK + VERB▪ come, happen, occur, take place▪The attack took place under cover of darkness.
▪ continue▪ fail, succeedPREPOSITION▪ under attack▪The province has been under attack from the rebels.
▪ attack against▪attacks against civilians
▪ attack by▪an attack by rebel forces
▪ attack on▪an attack on enemy positions
3 criticismADJECTIVE▪ bitter, blistering, devastating, fierce, outspoken (BrE), savage, scathing, scurrilous, stinging, vigorous▪ personal▪It was seen as a personal attack on the president.
▪ concerted▪ direct▪ verbalVERB + ATTACK▪ deliver, go on the, launch, make, mount, unleash▪Doctors have gone on the attack, accusing the government of incompetence.
▪ come under, provoke▪All politicians come under attack for their views.
▪The government's decision has provoked an attack from leaders of the health service.
PREPOSITION▪ attack on, attack upon▪an attack on my integrity
PHRASES▪ a/the line of attack▪The first line of attack is often name-calling.
▪ open to attack▪He has laid himself wide open to attack.
4 sudden illnessADJECTIVE▪ acute, sudden▪ bad, nasty, severe▪ fatal▪ mild, slight▪ recurrent▪ asthma, heart, panic▪a fatal heart attack
VERB + ATTACK▪ experience, have, suffer, suffer from▪He suffers from attacks of anxiety.
▪ bring on, cause, trigger▪a heart attack brought on by stress
ATTACK + VERB▪ happen, occur, take placePREPOSITION▪ attack of▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}a sudden attack of nerves
verb1 use violenceADVERB▪ brutally, savagely, viciously, violently▪They were brutally attacked by two men.
▪ physically▪ repeatedlyPREPOSITION▪ with▪He attacked her with a knife.
2 criticizeADVERB▪ fiercely, savagely, strongly, vigorously▪ repeatedly▪ directlyPREPOSITION▪ for▪The police have been strongly attacked for not taking immediate action.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
