Basic Details
Word: Attacked
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Used force or violence against someone or something; also, criticised strongly or played aggressively in a game.
Synonyms: assaulted, charged, raided, criticised
Antonyms: defended, protected
How to Spell Attacked
Syllables: at - tacked
Tricky part: Two t's at the start, and the word keeps the ck of attack before -ed. Students write attaked or add a t: attackted.
Watch out for: atacked, attaked, attackted
Memory tip: Attack ends in ck, like back and track. Keep the ck and just add ed, the same way tracked and backed are made.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The batter attacked every ball in the final over and hit three sixes.
Example 2: The newspaper attacked the council for leaving potholes unrepaired before the monsoon.
Example 3: Our dog barked furiously but never actually attacked the postman.
Fun Fact
In chess, when a piece attacks the king, the king is said to be in check.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word attacked as used in the sentence:
Our forwards attacked the opposing goal for most of the second half.
a) defended
b) struck
c) stormed
d) charged
Show answer
a) defended. Struck, charged and stormed are all ways to attack, but defended means guarding your own side.
Word Cookie
One word in this sentence is misspelt. Find it:
A swarm of bees attaked the picnic party near the old fort at Golconda.
a) fort
b) attaked
c) picnic
d) swarm
Show answer
b) attaked. Attack ends in ck, and that ck stays when ed is added.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. retreated 2. ambushed 3. atacked 4. surrendered
a) waited in hiding and then sprang on someone
b) moved back away from danger
c) used force against someone
d) gave up and stopped fighting
Show answer
c) used force against someone. The list has dropped one t: attack, like attach and attend, begins att-.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. When a critic attacked the film, the critic ____.
a) paid to watch it twice
b) spoke harshly against it
c) helped to make it
d) acted in it as a hero
Show answer
b) spoke harshly against it
2. Which animal is most likely to have attacked the hens at night?
a) a fox
b) a parrot
c) a goldfish
d) a cow
Show answer
a) a fox
