onslaught

noun

on·​slaught ˈän-ˌslȯt How to pronounce onslaught (audio)
ˈȯn-
Synonyms of onslaughtnext
: an especially fierce attack
… the tremendous onslaught across the Rhine …Winston Churchill
also : something resembling such an attack
an onslaught of technological changes
Employers are expecting an onslaught of recent college graduates.

Examples of onslaught in a Sentence

an onslaught by the enemy the massive onslaught of enemy troops caught the country by surprise
Recent Examples on the Web
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Kalaichandran also saw firsthand the overwhelm that can stem from having an onslaught of data without adequate interpretation. Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2026 Mother Nature undid a chunk of that work last week when an EF1 tornado descended on the R2 plant amid an onslaught of more than 30 twisters across the state, according to the National Weather Service. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 By the early ‘60s, however, Hollywood was discovering that their bland, non-genre movies were fading before the onslaught of TV. Peter Bart, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026 They were intimidated by the onslaught of reporters and the aggressiveness of some camera people. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onslaught

Word History

Etymology

modification of Dutch aanslag act of striking; akin to Old English an on and to Old English slēan to strike — more at slay

First Known Use

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of onslaught was circa 1625

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Cite this Entry

“Onslaught.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onslaught. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

onslaught

noun
on·​slaught ˈän-ˌslȯt How to pronounce onslaught (audio)
ˈȯn-
: a violent attack

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