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
The onset of governmental licensing and regulation from the 1920s onward created a legal limbo for community radio, and in some nations led to a decline in community radio as commercial radio and, later, public radio expanded.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
How inflation develops will depend on what happens in the war and the crucial waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed to oil tanker traffic since the onset of hostilities, stoking fears over oil and gas supplies in many parts of the world.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The early years of that time period coincided with the onset of the COVID pandemic, where there was little activity of any kind happening.
—Chase Jordan
april 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
California’s gas prices are the highest in the country and have risen sharply since the onset of the war with Iran.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onset
Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
How inflation develops will depend on what happens in the war and the crucial waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed to oil tanker traffic since the onset of hostilities, stoking fears over oil and gas supplies in many parts of the world.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The early years of that time period coincided with the onset of the COVID pandemic, where there was little activity of any kind happening.
—Chase Jordan
april 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
California’s gas prices are the highest in the country and have risen sharply since the onset of the war with Iran.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onset
Noun
-
In recent years, a litany of violent, seemingly unprovoked attacks across Metro led to the deaths or severe injury of several passengers—a confirmation of Angelenos’ worst fears about the system.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
According to the Qataris, two Iranian ballistic missiles and three drone attacks led to the injury of three people in the Gulf nation.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Clark spent six weeks at the beginning of this school year setting up and practicing classroom routines and procedures with her students.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Humble beginnings Menjívar arrived undocumented in the United States at age 18, fleeing a bloody civil war in El Salvador, stowed away in a car to avoid detection at the border.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Fritchey was initially arrested for first-degree assault.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
-
In March, Jackson was found guilty of first-degree murder, assault of a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage/stillbirth, and felony firearm.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Had a really nice fastball that got him through the backend of his start.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Right-hander Roki Sasaki strengthened his case Saturday with a quality start, despite some hiccups, as the Dodgers fell 3-2 to the Cardinals, extending their losing streak to four games.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The move triggered an onslaught of requests from wind and solar developers wanting to build projects in Sardinia.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
-
The Minnesota Wild, led by Quinn Hughes’ outstanding two-goal night, held on through a late-game onslaught.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images Since its inception, presidents have frequented the Washington Hilton.—
Katrina Kaufman,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to Powerball, the jackpot has been hit almost 200 times since the lottery's inception in 1992.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In Thursday’s season finale, Eddie is caught in the crosshairs of Anatoly Caster (Alan Starzinski), the scion of a corrupt businessman who was the target of a police raid, led by protagonist Athena Grant (Angela Bassett), for facilitating a human trafficking ring involving migrants in Los Angeles.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
-
Shopping malls across Southern California have also struggled to bring sales back as immigration raids continue to scare customers away.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
For example, Harvard University's commencement exercises will be held on Thursday, May 28.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
Games 6 and 7, if needed, would be played at Independence Community Ice and would be closed to the public because of limited capacity — those games cannot be played at Cable Dahmer Arena due to a scheduling conflict with local high school commencement ceremonies.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onset. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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