Synonyms: attack, tone-beginning
Definition: a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
Similar words: start, commencement, beginning
Definition: the act of starting something
Usage: he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations
Synonyms: attack
Definition: an offensive move in a sport or game
Usage: they won the game with a 10-hit attack in the 9th inning
Definition: (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
Usage: it is my turn; it is still my play
Definition: the act of attacking
Usage: attacks on women increased last year; they made an attempt on his life
Similar words: law-breaking, crime, criminal offence, criminal offense, offence, offense
Definition: (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
Usage: a long record of crimes
Synonyms: approach, attack, plan of attack
Definition: ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
Usage: his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons; an attack on inflation; his plan of attack was misguided
Similar words: conceptualisation, conceptualization, formulation
Definition: inventing or contriving an idea or explanation and formulating it mentally
Synonyms: onrush, onset, onslaught, attack
Definition: (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
Usage: the attack began at dawn
Similar words: military operation, operation
Definition: activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign)
Usage: it was a joint operation of the navy and air force
Synonyms: attack
Definition: strong criticism
Usage: he published an unexpected attack on my work
Similar words: criticism, unfavorable judgment
Definition: disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
Usage: the senator received severe criticism from his opponent
Synonyms: fire, flack, flak, attack, blast
Definition: intense adverse criticism
Usage: Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party; the government has come under attack; don't give me any flak
Similar words: criticism, unfavorable judgment
Definition: disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
Usage: the senator received severe criticism from his opponent
Synonyms: attack
Definition: the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)
Usage: the film was sensitive to attack by acids; open to attack by the elements
Similar words: degeneration, devolution
Definition: the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality
Synonyms: attack
Definition: a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
Usage: an attack of diarrhea
Similar words: affliction
Definition: a cause of great suffering and distress
Synonyms: attack
Definition: begin to injure
Usage: The cancer cells are attacking his liver; Rust is attacking the metal
Similar words: affect
Definition: act physically on; have an effect upon
Usage: the medicine affects my heart rate
Synonyms: attack
Definition: set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task
Usage: I attacked the problem as soon as I got out of bed
Similar words: commence, start, start out, set about, set out, get, get down, begin
Definition: take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
Usage: We began working at dawn; Who will start?; Get working as soon as the sun rises!; The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia; He began early in the day; Let's get down to work now
Synonyms: snipe, round, assail, assault, attack, lash out
Definition: attack in speech or writing
Usage: The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
Similar words: criticise, criticize, pick apart, knock
Definition: find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
Usage: The paper criticized the new movie; Don't knock the food--it's free
Definition: take the initiative and go on the offensive
Usage: The Serbs attacked the village at night; The visiting team started to attack
Definition: perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
Usage: think before you act; We must move quickly; The governor should act on the new energy bill; The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel
Definition: launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
Usage: Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II; Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week
Similar words: fight, contend, struggle
Definition: be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
Usage: the tribesmen fought each other; Siblings are always fighting; Militant groups are contending for control of the country