Attack

An attempt to cause damage, injury to, or death of opponent or enemy.

An attempt to detract from the worth or credibility of, a person, position, idea, object, or thing, by physical, verbal, emotional, or other assault.

"They claimed the censorship of the article was an attack on free speech."

A time in which one attacks; the offence of a battle.

"The army timed their attack to coincide with the local celebrations."

(by extension) The beginning of active operations on anything.

"Having washed the plates from dinner, I made an attack on the laundry."

To apply violent force to someone or something.

"This species of snake will only attack humans if it feels threatened."

To aggressively challenge a person, idea, etc., with words (particularly in newspaper headlines, because it typesets into less space than "criticize" or similar).

"She published an article attacking the recent pay cuts."

To begin to affect; to act upon injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.

To deal with something in a direct way; to set to work upon.

"I attacked the meal with a hearty appetite."