surprise attack

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

surprise attack - an attack without warning coup de main attack, onrush, onset, onslaught - (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn" terrorist attack - a surprise attack involving the deliberate use of violence against civilians in the hope of attaining political or religious aims ambuscade, ambush, lying in wait, trap - the act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise pre-emptive strike - a surprise attack that is launched in order to prevent the enemy from doing it to you