1
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
the walls withstood the onset of the first battalion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beginning
the point at which something begins
the claim that if you take enough vitamin C at the onset of a cold, you'll often recover faster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of onset
By contrast, before the onset of the conflict, the prices more consistently hovered around $67 to $71 per barrel.
—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
21 June 2026
Symptoms include a rash, which can appear three to five days after onset of illness, cough, runny nose and red and watery eyes, as well as a fever that can be higher than 101 degrees.
—
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Since the onset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 – tax legislation that doubled the standard deduction for most taxpayers – the number of taxpayers who itemize their deductions (rather than take the standard deduction) has dropped considerably.
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Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
But from the onset of training camp, Awbrey struggled to pick up the DCC style of dance and had difficulty remembering the choreography.
—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for onset
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
21 June 2026
Symptoms include a rash, which can appear three to five days after onset of illness, cough, runny nose and red and watery eyes, as well as a fever that can be higher than 101 degrees.
—
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Since the onset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 – tax legislation that doubled the standard deduction for most taxpayers – the number of taxpayers who itemize their deductions (rather than take the standard deduction) has dropped considerably.
—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
But from the onset of training camp, Awbrey struggled to pick up the DCC style of dance and had difficulty remembering the choreography.
—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for onset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onset
Noun
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One of the dogs involved in the attack was later found in Los Angeles County and seized.
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Two people were killed and seven others injured in Russian attacks on the northeastern Kharkiv region over the previous 24 hours, regional head Oleh Syniehubov said Friday.
Noun
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The United Nations estimates that gang violence has killed over 2,300 people in Haiti since the beginning of this year.
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In the beginning, use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer for the seedlings before switching to one with phosphorus and potassium after the plants have started to sprout.
Noun
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According to Holtz, Whittingham was charged with murder, first-degree assault, first-degree assault on an elderly person and home invasion.
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Atanas Hristev, 44, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon late last month, according to court records.
Noun
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Saturday was the continuation of a relatively quiet start to the World Cup for Ronaldo.
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The Cubs will try to rebound Saturday with left-hander David Peterson, acquired this week in a trade with the Mets, making his first start with his new team.
Noun
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Formula 1 via Getty Images Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z has been receiving an onslaught of backlash due to a partnership with Target for an exclusive vinyl album to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his classic debut album Reasonable Doubt.
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The World Cup has brought an onslaught of international soccer fans, and consequently, taste buds.
Noun
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Successful deployment demands robust governance from inception, ensuring traceability and mitigating risks.
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Since its inception, competitors have struggled not only to string together all those corners but to maintain speed all the way to the 14,115-foot (4,302 m) summit.
Noun
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Thursday’s raid was a part of the NYPD’s ongoing efforts to crack down on the city’s trade in bootleg merchandise, and follows five raids targeting vendors in Lower Manhattan between May 20 and June 12, cops said.
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Barely six months ago, US special forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from Caracas in a daring and deadly raid.
Noun
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The institutions that would be wise to pay attention are not just the ones whose CEOs walk into hostile commencement halls.
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At Middle Tennessee State University, Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta was booed while talking about AI at the commencement ceremony for the school's college of media and entertainment, which is named after him, reported the Nashville Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Cite this Entry
“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onset. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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