suffered an attack

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suffered an attack" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something has experienced an assault, either physically or metaphorically, such as in discussions about health, cybersecurity, or military actions. Example: "The city suffered an attack last night, resulting in significant damage to several buildings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Terry-Thomas was still suffering with poor health following the filming of The Naked Truth when he suffered an attack of lumbago; filming went on for 85 days during 1957 58, and he took painkillers to enable him to continue.

Wikipedia

Underlining the complexity of evolving threats from terrorism in the region, Pakistan suffered an attack on one of its diplomatic missions on Wednesday when three attackers attempted to storm the consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province.

The Guardian

London has suffered an attack.

The Guardian - Opinion

Churchill suffered an attack of pleurisy in the hospital.

The New York Times

Suddenly and without warning, Rose suffered an attack.

The Guardian

"I immediately suffered an attack of nausea that forced me to leave the scene," Krumboltz said.

Stanford University

But even that market has suffered an attack of investor nerves.

The Economist

Nashua suffered an attack of colic, and had to be withdrawn from the Atlantic City Handicap.

The New Yorker

Suddenly, however, while sitting in a restaurant, he suffered an attack of homesickness.

The New Yorker

That was long before he suffered an attack of post-party repression, and declared himself an independent.

The New York Times

Andrey suffered an attack of malicious wit and several times insulted the hostess, which didn't improve matters.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific event, use "suffered an attack" to clearly convey that someone or something was the target of a harmful action. Provide context about the type and severity of the attack for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "suffered an attack" when a more direct and active construction is appropriate. For example, instead of "The system suffered an attack by hackers", a clearer sentence could be "Hackers attacked the system".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suffered an attack" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that the subject experienced a harmful or damaging event. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used to describe events ranging from physical assaults to cyber incidents.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

14%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "suffered an attack" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe the experience of harm or adversity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and suitable for a range of contexts, from news reporting to academic discussions. While alternatives like "endured an assault" or "was subjected to an attack" exist, the choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure to provide sufficient context to clarify the nature and severity of the attack.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endured an assault

Replaces "suffered" with "endured", emphasizing the act of withstanding the attack.

experienced an assault

Uses "experienced" instead of "suffered", offering a more neutral tone.

was subjected to an attack

Provides a more formal and passive construction.

came under attack

Focuses on the action of being attacked, rather than the suffering.

faced an aggression

Replaces "attack" with "aggression", highlighting the hostile nature of the event.

was victimized by an attack

Emphasizes the victim's role in the attack.

sustained damage from an attack

Highlights the damage resulting from the attack.

bore the brunt of an assault

Implies a significant impact from the attack.

underwent an offensive

Uses "offensive" to specify the type of attack.

was besieged

Conveys a prolonged and intense attack.

FAQs

How can I use "suffered an attack" in a sentence?

You can use "suffered an attack" to indicate that someone or something was the target of a harmful action, for example: "The company "suffered an attack" on its network". Remember to provide context for clarity.

What can I say instead of "suffered an attack"?

Alternatives include "endured an assault", "experienced an assault", or "was subjected to an attack", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "suffered an attack"?

While "suffered an attack" is passive, its appropriateness depends on the context. Use active voice when you want to emphasize the attacker: "Hackers attacked the system." Use passive when the focus is on the victim: "The system "suffered an attack"".

What's the difference between "suffered an attack" and "sustained an attack"?

"Suffered an attack" emphasizes the experience of harm or adversity, while "sustained an attack" highlights the resulting damage or consequences. The choice depends on whether you want to focus on the experience or the outcome.