ONSET Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

onset

noun

ˈȯn-ˌset

Definition of onset

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of onset While dealing with the closure of Shanghai Disneyland amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chapek and Iger — who stayed with the company as executive chairman — sat for an interview with CNBC about the transition. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026 Fourteen years later, Les Milne was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, and at a Parkinson’s awareness lecture, Joy Milne noticed that the other Parkinson’s patients seemed to have a similar odor. — Marta Zaraaska, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026 Andrey Ganopolski, a physicist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said there has been plenty of research into whether carbon pollution may significantly delay the onset of the next ice age. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 The New Yorker named this novel — about a man who discovers a manuscript secretly written by his wife, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s — one of the best books of 2026. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onset

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onset

Noun

The Hope spent much of its time ferrying sailors and the wounded from other ships or ports to military hospitals, and like the Comfort, it too was attacked multiple times, though each attack failed, usually just missing the ship.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026
Following the Halle synagogue attack, Germany provided 22 million euros in special federal funding for physical and technical security at Jewish sites.

— Marc Schneier, New York Daily News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Except Moe is nice, caring, and talented, while Matt is arrogant, unpleasant, and, at the beginning of the episode, belligerently drunk.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2026
Still, gas prices remain up by more than 30% since the war with Iran started on February 28, and around 40% since the beginning of the year.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of beginning

Noun

Chinatown resident Matt Booth, who lives and works less than two blocks from where the alleged assault occurred, said he was shocked by the video.

— Eva Andersen, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
The woman, a massage therapist who Goldsmith hired to work on Brand at her house, accused the actor of physical assault in 2014.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Hemphill says doing the main pruning in spring prevents winter damage to tender young shoots and gives them a clean start for the new season.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Nov. 2026
Méndez finished his first regular season with six goals and four assists in 14 appearances with 10 starts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of start

Noun

But the investigative onslaught is also a source of tension for Democrats, with many warning that delivering on their central promise to voters -- actions to lower the cost of living -- must take precedence.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
The United Nations and international rights groups say these acts also amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in Darfur, which has been facing a bitter onslaught by the RSF.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of onslaught

Noun

From inception that tour’s financial sensibilities were wack — $100 million, $200 million, $300 million signing bonuses before a stroke was played.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Since its inception, in 2019, the torrid band Sweeping Promises has been a project about the act of creating.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of inception

Noun

The ceremony’s main commencement speaker, former President Clinton, was moved by the five-minute address, too.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2026
Chiefs fans have been unhappy with kicker Harrison Butker for his uneven success the previous two seasons, as well as that viral commencement speech at Benedictine College.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of commencement

Browse Nearby Words

onrushes

onset

onsets

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Style

“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onset. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of onset

noun

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