attacks
word · lemma: attack
Definition
Actions meant to hurt, damage, or defeat someone or something. It can refer to physical violence, military actions, strong verbal criticism, or sudden medical problems like heart attacks.
Usage & Nuances
Most commonly a noun plural of 'attack'. Common collocations include 'under attack', 'terrorist attacks', 'personal attacks', and 'panic attacks'. Be careful: in medical contexts, 'attack' can mean a sudden episode ('heart attack', 'asthma attack'), not violence.
Example Sentences
The city suffered several attacks last year.
basic
He had two attacks of asthma this winter.
basic
Online debates turn ugly fast when people start making personal attacks.
natural
Personal attacks are not allowed in class.
basic
The website keeps going down because of cyber attacks.
natural
She got anxious after hearing about the attacks on the news.
natural