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Synonyms for set upon
verb attack, usually with words

impugn
blast
revile
trash
berate
criticize

lambaste
vilify
bash
blister
malign
charge

bust
beset
assault
abuse
maltreat
molest

invade
encounter
come at
lay into
have at
work over

Antonyms for set upon

praise
compliment
uphold
exonerate

retreat
protect
surrender
help

let go
yield

Synonyms
verb attack

abuse
invade
rape
violate
beset
trash
advance
ruin

blitz
bushwhack
jump
charge
slam
zap
storm
strike

assail
blast
bash
come down on
go for
lay into
shoot down
haul off on

let have it
light into
slap around
work over
jump down one’s throat
jump on one’s case

Antonyms

retreat

decrease

praise

Synonyms
verb assault physically

hit
harm
charge
raid
besiege
beat
assault
hurt
bombard
ambush
stab
storm
strike
assail

blast
invade
infiltrate
clip
overwhelm
jump
brain
beset
molest
aggress
soak
clock
boot
bust

mug
slog
kick
biff
combat
club
bat
punch
bean
wallop
cook
bash
blister
advance

rush
bop
turn on
whop
larrup
boff
chop down
knock block off
knock cold
knock for a loop
lay siege to
light into
pounce upon
take the offensive

Antonyms

aid
assist
retreat
guard
protect
surrender
decrease

resist
shelter
shield
withstand
lose
help
leave alone

defend
submit
support
sustain
be lazy
slough off

Synonyms
verb harass, besiege

beset
bedevil
plague
annoy
gnaw

nag
tease
bother
pester
vex

blockade
persecute
storm
harry
worry

badger
put upon
siege

Antonyms

aid
assist

soothe
make happy

please
help

Synonyms
verb attack

assail
assault

rush
launch at

run at
rush upon

spring at

Antonyms

dislike
hate

surrender
yield

Synonyms
verb pounce, dive for

poke
lurch
bound
leap
stab

thrust
dash
cut
hit
burst

drive
surge
jump
push
charge

plunge
pitch
strike
jab
fall upon

Antonyms

dissuade
repress

retreat
lose

discourage

Synonyms
verb come upon by pushing; surround

swarm
jostle
throng

crowd
riot
attack

jam
cram
fill

hustle
overrun
pack

Antonyms

retreat
surrender

avoid
ignore

shun
leave alone

Synonyms
verb devastate, affect

try
attack
hit
invade
afflict

smite
torture
aggress
excruciate
harrow

beset
assault
torment
storm
assail

martyr
wring
rack
deal a blow
fall upon

Antonyms

aid
surrender
make happy

please
tap
lose

miss
not touch
pass up

Synonyms
verb intercept, ambush

accost
box
skulk
slink
lurk

prowl
bushwhack
jump
attack
surprise

catch
assail
ambuscade
hold up
lay for

lie in wait
pounce on
swoop down on

Antonyms

allow

forward

Usage Notes

The verbs set and sit1 are similar in form and meaning but different in grammatical use. Set is chiefly transitive and takes an object: Set the dish on the shelf. Its past tense and past participle are also set: Yesterday he set three posts for the fence. The judge has set the date for the trial. Set also has some standard intransitive uses, as “to pass below the horizon” (The sun sets late in the northern latitudes during the summer) and “to become firm, solid, etc.” (This glue sets quickly). The use of set for sit, “to be seated,” is nonstandard: Pull up a chair and set by me. Sit is chiefly intransitive and does not take an object: Let’s sit here in the shade. Its past tense and past participle are sat: They sat at the table for nearly two hours. Have they sat down yet? Transitive uses of sit include “to cause to sit” (Pull up a chair and sit yourself down) and “to provide seating for” (The waiter sat us near the window).