This is the 2428th most frequent Portuguese word.
atacar
"Atacar" means "to attack" in English.
In this sentence, 'atacar' is used in its literal sense, meaning 'to attack' as in engaging in combat or initiating aggression against a target.
O guerreiro decidiu atacar o castelo ao amanhecer.
The warrior decided to attack the castle at dawn.
Here, 'atacar' is used figuratively to mean 'to criticize or harm,' specifically referring to an assault on someone's character or standing.
Após o erro, a imprensa começou a atacar a reputação do político.
After the mistake, the press began to attack the politician's reputation.
In this instance, 'atacar' is used to describe the bothersome actions of mosquitoes, indicating a form of repeated annoyance or action.