ADJ
- brutal, frenzied, horrific, savage, serious, vicious, violent
- unprovoked
- racist, sexual
- arson, gun, knife
- an increase in knife attacks on police officers
VERB + ATTACK
- carry out
- Two teenagers carried out a frenzied attack on a local shopkeeper
- be subjected to
- He was subjected to a violent attack
ATTACK + VERB
- happen, occur, take place
- Where did the attack happen?
PREP
- ~ against
- vicious attacks against pensioners
- ~ by
- an attack by an armed gang
- ~ on
- an attack on a bus driver
ADJ
- all-out, full-scale, major
- sustained
- surprise
- retaliatory
- mock
- flank, frontal
- enemy, guerrilla, terrorist
- air, bomb, missile, mortar, nuclear
QUANT
- series
- The southern 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 village
- come under, suffer
- They came under sustained attack from the air
- repel, repulse, resist
- survive, withstand
- Most of the population would stand little chance of surviving a nuclear attack
- press home, renew
- Bombers pressed home their attack, causing severe damage to harbour installations
ATTACK + VERB
- happen, occur, take place
- The attack took place under cover of darkness
- fail, succeed
PREP
- under ~
- The province has been under attack from the rebels
- ~ against
- attacks against civilians
- ~ by
- an attack by rebel forces
- ~ on
- an attack on enemy positions
ADJ
- bitter, blistering, fierce, outspoken, savage, scathing, scurrilous, stinging, vigorous
- personal
- Is this a personal attack on the president, or a criticism of the government?
- concerted
- verbal
VERB + 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
PREP
- ~ on/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
ADJ
- acute, sudden
- bad, nasty, severe
- fatal
- mild, slight
- recurrent
- asthma, heart, panic
- a fatal heart attack
VERB + ATTACK
- experience, have, suffer (from)
- He suffers from attacks of anxiety
- bring on, cause, trigger
- a heart attack brought on by stress
ATTACK + VERB
- happen, occur, take place
PREP
- ~ of
- a sudden attack of nerves
ADV
- brutally, savagely, viciously, violently
- She was brutally attacked by two men
- physically
PREP
- with
- He attacked her with a knife
ADV
- fiercely, savagely, sharply, strongly, vigorously
PREP
- for
- The police have been strongly attacked for not taking immediate action