Spanish Conversation · Level 17
89 words
Spanish word
atacar
Pronunciation
IPA/ataˈkaɾ/
Meaning
- verbattack
Example
¿Por qué me atacaste?
Why did you attack me?
More examples
No puedes atacar mis ideas sin argumentos.
You can't attack my ideas without arguments.
Core concept
A deliberate use of force, insults, or arguments to damage or destabilize a target.
Common phrases
atacar a alguien
attack someone
atacar por sorpresa
attack by surprise
atacar con críticas
attack with criticism
Similar words
agredir: Inflicts physical violence with the aim of wounding or injuring another person.
insultar: Says offensive or abusive words to wound someone's feelings or dignity.
criticar: Points out faults or problems in actions or opinions to express disapproval.
asaltar: Approaches with force or threats to seize property or take control of a place.
Definition in Spanish
Usar fuerza, insultos o argumentos para perjudicar, molestar o desestabilizar a una persona, grupo o cosa.
Word origin
Derived from medieval French and Italian forms (attaquer, attaccare) that referred to launching an assault, giving the verb both literal and figurative senses.
Usage tips
- Atacar is a fairly strong verb that can sound harsh in polite conversation, so speakers often use milder verbs like criticar or confrontar in everyday speech.