Attack
Attack verb - To take sudden, violent action against.
Usage example: our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg
Protect is an antonym for attack in topics: assault, defend, set to work, assault physically, assault verbally.
Protect
Protect verb - To drive danger or attack away from.
Usage example: the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
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It is similar to protect, except any attacker who used a contact move also gets their attack lowered by 2 levels.
Source: Defend Command -
Played with and lampshaded in Dungeons & Dragons Online: The quest Assault on Summerfield gives you an optional sidequest to protect an NPC, Captain Markus, during waves of attack.
Source: Retirony - After an attack on the town which they can't protect themselves against, the women give in unaware that Josh had arranged for the attack.
Source: Lysistrata Gambit
Cite this Source
Protect and Attack. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/protect
Attack & Protect. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/protect>.
Protect or Attack. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/protect.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "attack" and "protect" have occurred on timeline