1
as in to bomb
to use bombs or artillery against the Allies bombarded Germany for a great many months during World War II

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to barrage
to attack with a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once reporters bombarded the company spokesman with sharp questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb bombard contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bombard are assail, assault, attack, and storm. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

When is assail a more appropriate choice than bombard?

While the synonyms assail and bombard are close in meaning, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

When could assault be used to replace bombard?

While in some cases nearly identical to bombard, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When might attack be a better fit than bombard?

The words attack and bombard can be used in similar contexts, but attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When can storm be used instead of bombard?

The meanings of storm and bombard largely overlap; however, storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bombard Israel resumed its offensive on Gaza on Tuesday, first bombarding the Strip with airstrikes before launching a ground offensive a day later. Abeer Salman, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025 The arrangement morphed into a cottage industry for a small number of law firms that solicited plaintiffs door to door and bombarded insurers with litigation, insurers have long contended. Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025 The goal isn't to bombard them but to remain memorable for when relevant opportunities arise. Isabelita Castilho, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 From the time most of us begin school we are bombarded with instruction, directions, and rules. Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bombard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombard
Verb
  • Israel has bombed, besieged and raided them, some several times, while accusing Hamas of using them as cover for its fighters.
    Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh bombed a federal building, killing 167 people and injuring 684.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Just as often as not, what results from this impulse to lightly fictionalize a recent news story is an overly straightforward telling of the same facts we’ve been barraged with already.
    Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) tried to dismiss the controversy when he was barraged by television camera crews outside his office in the Dirksen Building on Tuesday morning.
    Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Korematsu was just 22 years old and working hard to expand his family’s flower nursery outside San Francisco when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.
    Lauren Stienstra, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Every American should reject the president's and his cronies' illegitimate use of government power to attack his enemies.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • While fans flooded his comments with well-wishes, the rapper’s message was clear: stay vigilant, because health is nothing to play with.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Salvage and cleanup work will continue this weekend as volunteers from nearby communities flood Moundville for a cleanup day to help the Botts and others impacted by the tornado.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bombard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombard. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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