| 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: | snap |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | speak sharply |
| Synonyms: | bark, flare, flash, fly off the handle, get angry, growl, grumble, grunt, jump down throat, lash out, retort, roar, snarl, snort, take it out on, vent, yell |
| 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
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