1
as in attacks
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 beginnings
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onsets
Noun
-
Ukraine has launched drone attacks at Russia, although on a smaller scale.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026 -
The move came after a series of Iranian attacks on other troops at British, French and Italian bases in northern Iraq.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Amid all the admiring, even nostalgic, books and films commemorating America’s revolutionary beginnings in the lead-up to our country’s 250th birthday, Ellis’ book examines the underside of that time, specifically the failure to end slavery, and the failure to avoid Indian removal.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
-
However, new beginnings are hard to get when the past and your family's name keep haunting you.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When asked about the Tribune analysis, the CTA suggested that compared with some other cities, Chicago has more aggressive policies on when to transport someone to the hospital, which could lead to more assaults reported.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
These are just a few of the daily roll calls of assaults on Jewish institutions.—
Joshua M. Davidson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Padres expected there to be starts and stops along with setbacks and surges in bringing Joe Musgrove back from Tommy John surgery this year.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The latter will get some starts at third in place of McMahon when the Yankees face tough lefties, though Rosario can also play some second base and outfield.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The raids at Prime Social and Post Oak Poker Club led to the arrest of nine people associated with the clubs, according to ABC13.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Last week’s deployment of the 31st MEU to the Middle East has sparked speculation as to whether they might be used to seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf -- crucial to Iran's oil trade -- or carry out raids on the Iranian shoreline around the Strait of Hormuz.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When will these onslaughts of cold end?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
By moving some commencements away from increasingly costly private sites, the financially ailing school district could have saved about half a million dollars a year.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nation-states now pair kinetic strikes with digital offensives.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Mar. 2026
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Dynamic shifts on the battlefield — with large swaths of Ukrainian land changing hands in offensives and counteroffensives in the early years of the war — have since given way to a conflict of inches.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Onsets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onsets. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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