Collocations for "attack"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "attack" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
attack
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- had a [heart, asthma, panic] attack
- suffered an attack of [indigestion, the hiccups]
- a sudden attack of [remorse, guilt]
- a [bear, shark, wolf] attack
- [terrorist, rebel, counter] attack
- [bloody, costly, successful] attack
- [an all-out, a gung-ho, an ambush] attack
- [100 people] were [killed, wounded, captured] during the attack
- the area came under [air, rocket, missile] attacks
- several attacks have [taken place, been reported]
- [ravaged, injured, gouged] in a bear attack
- an attack that [killed] [100 people]
- was [killed] in an attack
- facing a [possible, probable, impending] attack (by)
- [planned, carried out] the attack
- the [president, general, commander] ordered the attack
- the attack was [carried out, launched, made] by
- an attack on [America]
- an attack on our [values, freedoms, passions]
- an attack by the [enemy, Italians]
- the team's attack was [on fire, poor, lackluster]
- defense is the best form of attack
- attack and defense
- attack [the enemy, the border, our defenses, the base]
- attacked the [village, town, city]
- attacking the [idea, position, opinion] (that)
- attacking the [plan, concept, theory] (that)
- attack the problem (head on)
- attacked (him) from [behind, the left, the flanks]
- the [dog, mugger, enemy, snake] attacked
- the [dog] attacked [the postman, the intruder, her]
- attack with [all your strength, tanks, the troops]
- attack and [destroy, kill, defend]
- the disease attacks [brain cells, the immune system]
- [was, has been] attacked by a [dog, bear, man]
- attacked on [the street, my way home]
- attacked in [Spain, his house]
- attacked with [pepper spray, a pistol, a baseball bat]
- attacked at [night, dawn, home]
'attack' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
answer
- claim
- counter
- die
- link
- rock
- suffer
- time
- account
- castle
- bear
- ground
- heart
- witness
- will
- wedding
- stress
- response
- reply
- plan
- pack
- loss
- almost
- convenient
- harsh
- high
- wild
- random
- large
- intelligent
- surprise
- mortar
- panic
- pirate
- revenge
- smear
- sniper
- command
- cough
- cramp
- debris
- deployment
- flank
- maggot
- mare
- rage
- rebel
- retaliation
- server
- shiver