as in shark
one who makes harsh, personal attacks against opponents
his reputation as a political attack dog earned him the vice presidential spot on the ticket
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Recent Examples of attack dog
At the same time, Republicans recognized Vance's willingness to serve as Trump's attack dog against Harris and go toe-to-toe with adversaries.
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Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Vance stepped out of his role as former President Trump's campaign trail attack dog.
—Erin Doherty, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024
The speech reflected his role in the campaign: an attack dog deployed most often to the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where the campaign believes its apostate of elite culture connects with the white working-class voters who may decide the election.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
Zelizer said both Walz and Vance will look to carry out their roles of attack dogs for their respective campaigns.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for attack dog 
Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Vance stepped out of his role as former President Trump's campaign trail attack dog.
—Erin Doherty, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024
The speech reflected his role in the campaign: an attack dog deployed most often to the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where the campaign believes its apostate of elite culture connects with the white working-class voters who may decide the election.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
Zelizer said both Walz and Vance will look to carry out their roles of attack dogs for their respective campaigns.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for attack dog
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack dog
Noun
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Or, consider the Greenland shark–the longest living vertebrate known to science, capable of living up to 500 years.Scott Travers, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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The title is a reference to a Happy Days episode in which Fonzie—played by Winker—jumped over a shark while water-skiing.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Social media platforms were a critical battleground during the campaign, with political mudslingers waging cyberwar with few legal constraints after the government failed to act on calls for a new law to protect democracy in the internet age.Washington Post, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2019
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In 2010, when the group launched ahead of Barack Obama’s reelection campaign, Brock had imposed a set of self-regulations on the staff that would cultivate an air of respectability for the mudslingers.Gabriel Debenedetti, Daily Intelligencer, 20 May 2018
Noun
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Today there are two main types of lobbyists in Springfield: those who work exclusively for a single corporation or interest group — the state’s manufacturers or retailers, for instance — and those who contract with a variety of clients, essentially hired guns for anyone willing to pay.Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 17 Nov. 2024
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Every four years, ambitious consultants and hired guns sit down with aspiring presidents and sell them a lie.Philip Elliott, Time, 17 Aug. 2023
Noun
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Especially when your father was a legendary sicario (hit man).Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement California For Subscribers Spirit Air, cramped hotels, In-N-Out: Police say Chicago hit men killed in L.A. on a budget Nov. 11, 2024 More than 30 people, including family, friends and Sony Music representatives, packed into the courtroom, which Assistant U.S. Atty.Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Vladimir Zhirinovsky, another of President Vladimir Putin’s hatchet men, advised Americans to vote for Donald Trump or risk being dragged into a nuclear war.Mitchell A. Orenstein, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2016
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In the twenty-tens, the brothers took up solo careers; Malice converted to Christianity (becoming No Malice), as Pusha T became a hatchet man for Kanye West.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near attack dog
Cite this Entry
“Attack dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack%20dog. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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