aggress

ag·gress  (-grs)

intr.v. ag·gressed, ag·gress·ing, ag·gress·es

To initiate an attack, war, quarrel, or fight: "America . . . guaranteed that no EC state would aggress against another" (John J. Mearsheimer).

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[French agresser, from Latin aggred, aggress-, to attack : ad-, ad- + grad, to go; see ghredh- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

aggress - take the initiative and go on the offensive; "The Serbs attacked the village at night"; "The visiting team started to attack" attack check - place into check; "He checked my kings" fork - place under attack with one's own pieces, of two enemy pieces attack, assail - launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week" harass - exhaust by attacking repeatedly; "harass the enemy" pin - immobilize a piece tackle - seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"