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
-
This mountainous region is known for its lush forests, lakes and valleys – and for being a hotspot for this year’s deadly bear attacks in Japan.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025 -
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a large portion of Iran's ballistic missile arsenal was destroyed during the first hours of the aerial attacks.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This is a year of new beginnings and adventures!—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
-
In straightforward and compelling prose, Sammy, then 40, tells the story of his vaudeville beginnings, his growth as an entertainer, and his movement through America.—
Questlove,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Miller was convicted of assaults on women aged 56, 68 and 22.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
-
According to his application, the assaults occurred between 2010 and 2023.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The cash payments have also led to higher birth weights and longer breastfeeding periods for babies, the Bridge Project says, both of which signal healthier starts to a child's life.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The workout flurry comes while the Bears sit at one of their better starts (5-3) and navigate a crucial midseason stretch — one in which maintaining a steady run game will be important to protect QB Caleb Williams and an evolving offense.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Not only has Rodrigo been vocal in her opposition to Trump, endorsing his opponent Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, but she’s also specifically called out his harsh crackdown on immigration by way of ICE raids this past year.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Von had been Trump-friendly before the gruesome and heartbreaking videos of the ICE raids targeting working immigrants started going viral on social media.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There’s something rare about Swain, who is a young brainiac, but one who has built his business the old-fashioned, pre-quant-trading and Excel models Wall Street way, via charm offensives that weave webs of tight relationships few rivals can match.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Since October 2023, Israel's ground and air offensives in Gaza have displaced more than 2 million people and killed more than 68,500 Palestinians, according to the AP.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gatica was tracked down, arrested on charges of DUI and related offenses, and booked into the Orange County Jail.—
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
He was also convicted twice in Yolo County for DUI in 2017 and 2023 and had been warned by judges that future offenses could lead to murder charges.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Notably, Stefanik is not narrating the video, a feature typical of most campaign launches, when the candidate speaks directly to appeal to the voter.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
-
As orbital launches and other space activities have increased, so have the fragments produced by collisions, accidental breakups, spent rocket stages, and more.—
Humberto Basilio,
Scientific American,
7 Nov. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Onsets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onsets. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share