as in shark
one who makes harsh, personal attacks against opponents
his reputation as a political attack dog earned him the vice presidential spot on the ticket
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attack dog
Carter’s press secretary Jody Powell contended that journalistic attack dogs foamed at the mouth.
—
Amber Roessner / Made By History, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Two months into Donald Trump’s second term, his Republican attack dogs, including Elon Musk and his minions at DOGE, are still busy chewing into many parts of the federal government.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Poilievre, for years the party’s go-to attack dog, is a firebrand populist who blamed Canada’s cost-of-living crisis on Trudeau.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Freedman has always seen himself as the attack dog for the underdogs.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attack dog
Amber Roessner / Made By History, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Two months into Donald Trump’s second term, his Republican attack dogs, including Elon Musk and his minions at DOGE, are still busy chewing into many parts of the federal government.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Poilievre, for years the party’s go-to attack dog, is a firebrand populist who blamed Canada’s cost-of-living crisis on Trudeau.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Freedman has always seen himself as the attack dog for the underdogs.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attack dog
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack dog
Noun
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To help with the latter activity, go diving or snorkeling under the guidance of professionals to see stingrays, sharks and hundreds of other animal species up close.—
Natasha Amar,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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That shark was just a pneumatic mechanical device, in the actual ocean.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Social media platforms were a critical battleground during the campaign, with political mudslingers waging cyberwar with few legal constraints after the government failed to act on calls for a new law to protect democracy in the internet age.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
12 Dec. 2019
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In 2010, when the group launched ahead of Barack Obama’s reelection campaign, Brock had imposed a set of self-regulations on the staff that would cultivate an air of respectability for the mudslingers.—
Gabriel Debenedetti,
Daily Intelligencer,
20 May 2018
Noun
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Today there are two main types of lobbyists in Springfield: those who work exclusively for a single corporation or interest group — the state’s manufacturers or retailers, for instance — and those who contract with a variety of clients, essentially hired guns for anyone willing to pay.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Nov. 2024
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Every four years, ambitious consultants and hired guns sit down with aspiring presidents and sell them a lie.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
17 Aug. 2023
Noun
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And so, Hutch and his kids decide to go on a vacation, one that quickly turns into a bloodbath as Hutch has to not only protect his family but also his identity from hit men.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
13 May 2025
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When McGee got word that the hit man gunning for LaRoche was en route, Tammy got looped in and everyone took the sitch much more seriously — especially when the cops stationed outside got taken out.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Back home, more pink slips for federal employees go out and the scrutiny of Elon Musk's role as the hatchet man for those agencies intensifies.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2025
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Musician and producer Grimes made a rare comment involving her ex-partner and father to her three kids, Elon Musk, after their 4-year-old son appeared alongside the tech mogul turned government hatchet man at the White House on Wednesday.—
Kevin Dolak,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attack dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attack%20dog. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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