ONSET Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

onset

noun

ˈȯn-ˌset

Definition of onset next

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 From when French fur trappers and Catholic missionaries first made their way to the Great Lakes in the 17th century until the onset of a population boom in the mid-19th century, Indigenous inhabitants sustained relatively stable and mutually beneficial relations with colonial powers. —

Daniel Cueto-Villalobos, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2026 News of El Mencho's death brought a quick onset of violence throughout Mexico’s western state of Jalisco, with organized crime groups setting buses on fire, blocking roads, and continuing conflicts with the military, CNN reports. —

Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026 For some people, early-onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may be behind the symptoms. —

Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026 More is being learned about the onset of menstruation, preeclampsia in pregnancy, and the impact of menopause than what was taught in medical school 25 years ago, Joynt Maddox said. —

Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onset

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onset

Noun

Sirens sounded across Israel as a precautionary measure, alerting the public to potential missile attacks, the IDF confirmed.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 28 Feb. 2026
The attacks began with Israeli strikes Saturday morning — a workday in Iran — on Tehran, the capital, with residents speaking of attacks near the presidential palace and Iran’s National Security Council.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026