| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | attack |
| Synonyms: | abuse, advance, assail, bash, beset, blast, blitz, bushwhack, charge, come down on, go for, haul off on, invade, jump, jump down one's throat, jump on one's case, lay into, let have it, light into, rape, ruin, set upon, shoot down, slam, slap around, storm, strike, trash, violate, work over, zap |
| Notes: | to assail a task is to approach it with the intent of mastering it, from Latin salire 'to leap'; assault is also based on this word and assail and assault can be synonyms assault is an attempt or threat to do physical harm while battery is unjustified application of force; assault and battery is carrying out of threatened physical harm or violence |
| Main Entry: | blame |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | accuse; place responsibility |
| Synonyms: | admonish, ascribe, attribute, blast, blow the whistle on, censure, charge, chide, climb all over, condemn, criticize, denounce, denunciate, disapprove, express disapprobation, find fault with, finger*, frame, hold responsible, impute, indict, jump all over, jump down one's throat, knock*, lay a bad trip on, lay at one's door, lay to, let one have it, lower the boom, pass the buck, point the finger, rap, rebuke, reprehend, reproach, reprove, roast, saddle, skin*, stick it to, tax, upbraid |
| Antonyms: | applaud, commend, exalt, exculpate, exonerate, praise, thank |
| Main Entry: | castigate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize severely |
| Synonyms: | baste, bawl out, beat, berate, blister, cane, censure, chasten, chastise, chew out, come down on, correct, criticize, discipline, drag over the coals, dress down, drub, excoriate, flay, flog, jump down one's throat, lambaste, lash, lay out, lean on, penalize, pummel, punish, rail, rate, read the riot act, ream, rebuke, reprimand, scarify, scathe, scold, scorch, scourge, thrash, tongue-lash, upbraid, whip |
| Antonyms: | compliment, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | inveigh |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | blame, denounce |
| Synonyms: | admonish, berate, blast, castigate, censure, condemn, crack down on, except, expostulate, go after, have at, jump down one's throat, kick, lambaste, lay into, lay out, let have it, object, protest, rail, read out, recriminate, remonstrate, reproach, rip into, roast, scold, scorch, sound off, tongue-lash, trash*, upbraid, vituperate, work over |
| Antonyms: | flatter, praise |
| Main Entry: | rebuke |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | reprimand; criticize harshly |
| Synonyms: | admonish, bawl out, berate, blame, call on the carpet, carp on, castigate, censure, chew out, chide, climb all over, dress down, fry, go after, jawbone, jump down one's throat, jump on, lay into, lean on, lecture, lesson, monish, oppose, pay, rake, read*, reprehend, reprimand, reproach, reprove, rip*, scold, sit on, sound off, take to task, tear apart, tell off, tick off, upbraid, zap |
| Antonyms: | compliment, flatter, praise |
| Main Entry: | reprove |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | rebuke |
| Synonyms: | admonish, bawl out, berate, castigate, censure, chew out, chide, condemn, jump down one's throat, lambaste, lay into, lecture, read the riot act, reprimand, reproach, scold, take to task, upbraid |
| Main Entry: | bawl out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | severely reprimand |
| Synonyms: | berate, castigate, chew out, dress down, have words, jump down one's throat, punish, rake over the coals, reprimand, rip into, scold, take to task, tell off, upbraid, yell at |
| Antonyms: | praise |
| Main Entry: | attack |
| Part of Speech: | noun, verb |
Related
Adjectives: |
aggressive, attacking, batterfanged, ictic, obsidional, offensive, petulcous, up in arms
|
| Concept: | Attack. |
| Category: | 1. Conditional antagonism |
| Synonyms: |
-nouns
attack; assault, assault and battery; onset, onslaught, charge., aggression, offense; incursion, inroad, invasion; irruption; outbreak; estrapade, ruade; coupe de main, sally, sortie, camisade, raid, foray; run at, run against; dead set at., storm, storming; boarding, escalade; siege, investment, obsession, bombardment, cannonade., fire, volley; platoon fire, file fire; fusillade; sharpshooting, broadside; raking fire, crossfire; volley of grapeshot, feu d'enfer., cut, thrust, lunge, pass, passado, carte and tierce, home thrust; coupe de bec; kick, punch (impulse)., battue, razzia, Jacquerie, dragonnade; devastation; eboulement., assailant, aggressor, invader., base of operations, point of attack; echelon.
-verbs
attack, assault, assail; invade; set upon, fall upon; charge, impugn, break a lance with, enter the lists., assume the offensive, take the offensive; be the aggressor, become the aggressor; strike the first blow, throw the first stone at; lift a hand against, draw the sword against; take up the cudgels; advance against, march against; march upon, harry; come on, show fight., strike at, poke at, thrust at; aim a blow at, deal a blow at; give one a blow, fetch one a blow, fetch one a kick, give one a kick; have a cut at, have a shot at, take a cut at, take a shot at, have a fling at, have a shy at; be down upon, pounce upon; fall foul of, pitch into, launch out against; bait, slap on the face; make a thrust at, make a pass at, make a set at, make a dead set at; bear down upon., close with, come to close quarters;, bring to bay., ride full tilt against; attack tooth and nail., let fly at, dash at, run a tilt at, rush at, tilt at, run at, fly at, hawk at, have at, let out at; make a dash, make a rush at; strike home; drive one hard; press one hard; be hard upon, run down, strike at the root of., lay about one, run amuck., draw a bead on [U.S.]., fire upon, fire at, fire a shot at; shoot at, pop at, level at, let off a gun at; open fire, pepper, bombard, shell, pour a broadside into; fire a volley, fire red-hot shot; spring a mine., throw a stone, throw stones at; stone, lapidate, pelt; hurl at, hurl against, hurl at the head of; rock [U.S.], beset, besiege, beleaguer; lay siege to, invest, open the trenches, plant a battery, sap, mine; storm, board, scale the walls., cut and thrust, bayonet, butt; kick, strike (impulse); whipe (punish).
-adjectives
attacking; aggressive, offensive, obsidional., up in arms.
-adverbs
on the offensive.
-phrases
"the din of arms, the yell of savage rage, the shriek of agony, the groan of death" [Southey]; "their fatal hands no second stroke intend' [Paradise Lost]; "thirst
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| Antonyms: | defense |
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