set on
verb
set on; setting on; sets on
transitive verb
1
: attack
2
a
obsolete : promote
b
: to urge (an animal, such as a dog) to attack or pursue
c
: to incite to action : instigate
d
: to set to work
intransitive verb
: go on, advance
Synonyms
- assail
- assault
- attack
- beset
- bushwhack
- charge
- descend (on or upon)
- go in (on)
- jump (on)
- pounce (on or upon)
- raid
- rush
- sic
- sick
- storm
- strike
- trash
- turn (on)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
without warning, bandits would set on unwary merchants as they traveled along the Silk Road
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Medical Definition
seton
noun
se·ton ˈsēt-ᵊn 
: one or more threads or horsehairs or a strip of linen introduced beneath the skin by a knife or needle to provide drainage or formerly to produce or prolong inflammation
Biographical Definition
Seton 1 of 2
biographical name (1)
Se·ton ˈsē-tᵊn
Saint Elizabeth Ann 1774–1821 Mother Seton née Bayley American religious leader
Seton
2 of 2biographical name (2)
Ernest Thompson 1860–1946 originally surname Thompson American (English-born) writer and illustrator
setting on
verb
as in attacking
to take sudden, violent action against without warning, bandits would set on unwary merchants as they traveled along the Silk Road Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- attacking
- raiding
- assaulting
- setting at
- rounding on
- flying at
- setting upon
- storming
- going at
- tearing into
- pitching into
- beating up on
- striking
- lighting into
- turning (on)
- going in (on)
- descending (on or upon)
- pouncing (on or upon)
- jumping (on)
- robbing
- charging
- ambushing
- rushing
- invading
- assailing
- bushwhacking
- besetting
- swarming
- siccing
- ganging up (on)
- trashing
- sicking
- surprising
- banging away (at)
- sacking
- flanking
- ambuscading
- mobbing
- bombing
- besieging
- mugging
- waylaying
- blitzing
- plundering
- nuking
- battering
- looting
- bombarding
- ravaging
- cannonading
- cannoning
- buffeting
- plastering
- bum-rushing
- barraging
- pillaging
- surprizing
- beleaguering
- enveloping
- harrying
- pressing
- overrunning
- foraying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- covering
- protecting
- defending
- securing
- guarding
- shielding