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
Trump has maligned Pritzker in the press over his appearance while Pritzker was Vice President Kamala Harris' attack dog on the campaign trail, slamming Trump routinely.
—
Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
Some took it as a sign that Trump might rein in his attack dog.
—Simon Shuster, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025
Fleas typically attack dogs and cats, but humans can also get bites.
—Laura Schober, Health, 11 Oct. 2024
The former congressman has often been an attack dog for Trump in going after critics.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for attack dog
Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
Some took it as a sign that Trump might rein in his attack dog.
—Simon Shuster, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025
Fleas typically attack dogs and cats, but humans can also get bites.
—Laura Schober, Health, 11 Oct. 2024
The former congressman has often been an attack dog for Trump in going after critics.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for attack dog
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attack dog
Noun
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Only 15 of those animals were meant to be stopped by the nets; the rest were dolphins, rays, turtles and sharks that aren’t considered dangerous.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
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Megalodons were behemoth sharks that roamed the waters starting 20 million years ago and are now extinct.—
Christine Wusylko,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 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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Image ‘Old Guy’ Christoph Waltz stars as an older hit man who begrudgingly trains his Gen-Z replacement in this tired action comedy directed by Simon West.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
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Alec Baldwin’s psycho hit man also chooses her to intimidate into getting the jury to acquit.—
Eddie Mouradian,
Vulture,
24 Feb. 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 23 Apr. 2025.
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