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
Measles can be transmitted by an infected person from four days prior to the onset of the rash to four days after the rash erupts.
—
Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Jan. 2026
The onset of elevated inflation alongside sluggish hiring in recent months had put the Fed in a difficult position, even before the DOJ opened a probe into Powell.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2026
As a result, the researchers could not determine the biological steps linking the immune reaction to the onset of the illness.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Bialystok, a cognitive neuroscientist, recommends studying a new language at any age, comparing the challenge to word puzzles and brain-training games that are promoted to slow the onset of dementia.
—Stephen Wade, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onset
Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Jan. 2026
The onset of elevated inflation alongside sluggish hiring in recent months had put the Fed in a difficult position, even before the DOJ opened a probe into Powell.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2026
As a result, the researchers could not determine the biological steps linking the immune reaction to the onset of the illness.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Bialystok, a cognitive neuroscientist, recommends studying a new language at any age, comparing the challenge to word puzzles and brain-training games that are promoted to slow the onset of dementia.
—Stephen Wade, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onset
Noun
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Good's defenders – including city and state leaders – are calling what happened an unjustified attack; federal authorities say the agent was acting in self-defense.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
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In Kyiv, a CNN reporter said that the attack began around midnight, starting with multiple drone strikes on residential buildings.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Indiana went on a 14-1 run in the third to take the lead from Nebraska (14-2, 3-2) for the first time since the beginning of the game, leading briefly at 51-49.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
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As for the Lady Kate, Furrer said the 110-foot boat stopped cruising at the beginning of the pandemic.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Federal officials have said agents, including those part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are seeing increases in assaults and threats against them.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
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However, after his conviction on assault and harassment charges, Marvel dropped him from future projects.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Ezeiruaku, 22, was a second-round draft pick out of Boston College in 2025 and appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, including nine starts.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
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Dallas' Jaden Hardy, making his second start of the season, scored 11 of his 14 points in the first five minutes, including three of his four 3-pointers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Disney spent about $40 million to defend itself from Peltz’s onslaught, while Peltz spent about $25 million, according to filings from both sides of that battle.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
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Aside from looming school closures, Grand Prairie ISD has faced an onslaught of scandals recently.—
Silas Allen,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Since its inception in 1981, Wednesday's Child has been a collaboration of the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), the Department of Children & Families and WBZ-TV/CBS Boston.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
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From its inception, Survivor was an instant smash, bringing in nearly 30 million viewers a week in its first few years (with more than 50 million tuning into the season-one finale) and winning the top Emmy for outstanding nonfiction program out of the gate.—
David Canfield,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Federal agents arrested one person as part of the raid, and later, two protesters in the parking lot.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Other factors are driving up beef prices, too, including feed costs because of tariffs coming from Canada and labor shortages with immigrant raids on ranches.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The inspirational book was adapted from the former Navy SEAL’s viral 2014 commencement speech for the University of Texas.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
30 Dec. 2025
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Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan, says fall commencement services will take place as planned, despite recent campus building closings related to problems with its high-temperature hot water pipe system.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onset. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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