attack dog
noun
1
: a dog trained to attack on command or on sight
2
: a person noted for harsh, personal, and usually public verbal attacks against others
a political attack dog
—usually hyphenated when used before another nounattack-dog tactics
Examples of attack dog in a Sentence
The charges against the candidate were made by one of the governor's attack dogs.
his reputation as a political attack dog earned him the vice presidential spot on the ticket
Recent Examples on the Web
Cats were more likely to attack dogs than vice versa.
—
Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Yes, this was a kindler, gentler Vance, not the rabid attack dog so visible on the campaign trail.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
By now, the rules, history, and alliances in the assassins’ club have grown almost dizzyingly complex, but Halle Berry and her attack dogs add a jolt of energy to the boys' club.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Alex Jennings is no longer quietly terrifying so much as an attack dog taken off his leash, and his is one of the best performances in the series.
—Jack King, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for attack dog 
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Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Yes, this was a kindler, gentler Vance, not the rabid attack dog so visible on the campaign trail.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
By now, the rules, history, and alliances in the assassins’ club have grown almost dizzyingly complex, but Halle Berry and her attack dogs add a jolt of energy to the boys' club.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Alex Jennings is no longer quietly terrifying so much as an attack dog taken off his leash, and his is one of the best performances in the series.
—Jack King, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for attack dog
Dictionary Entries Near attack dog
Cite this Entry
“Attack dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attack%20dog. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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