fusillade

noun

fu·​sil·​lade ˈfyü-sə-ˌläd 

-ˌlād,

ˌfyü-sə-ˈläd,

-ˈlād,

-zə-

1

a

: a number of shots fired simultaneously or in rapid succession

b

: something that gives the effect of a fusillade

a fusillade of rocks and bottles

2

: a spirited outburst especially of criticism

Synonyms

• barrage
• blitz
• blitzkrieg
• bombardment
• cannonade
• drumbeat
• drumfire
• flurry
• hail
• salvo
• shower
• storm
• volley

Examples of fusillade in a Sentence

A fusillade of bullets filled the courtyard.

responded calmly to the fusillade of criticism leveled at his design for the memorial

Recent Examples on the Web

In the case of Venezuela, U.S. officials were — and remain — sharply torn over the financial fusillade. —Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 26 July 2024

Plainclothes Secret Service agents piled atop the president as a fusillade of shots rang out, apparently the Secret Service killing Crooks. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024

As coastal Texas recovers from the first of what is expected to be a fusillade of dangerous Atlantic hurricanes, the Biden administration unveiled new flood risk standards Wednesday aimed at waterproofing public infrastructure. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 10 July 2024

Iran’s fusillade of rockets, missiles and drones at Israel a month ago, despite being a colossal failure, was a shocking act of war that was successfully defeated by an alliance of Israel, Western powers and Arab states. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from fusiller "to shoot with a musket volley" (from fusil fusil entry 2 + -iller, causative prefix, going back to Latin -iculāre, derivative of -iculum, instrumental and diminutive suffix) + -ade -ade

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

fusillade

noun

fu·​sil·​lade ˈfyü-sə-ˌläd 

-ˌlād,

-zə-;

ˌfyü-sə-ˈläd,

-ˈlād,

-zə-

1

: a number of shots fired at the same time or rapidly one after another

2

: something like a fusillade of shots

a fusillade of rocks

3

: an outburst especially of criticism