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
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And, in any case, many legal experts say the boat attacks amount to extrajudicial killings in violation of international law.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026 -
Sam Abu Haikal is the 13th child to be killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank so far this year, according to the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, which has documented the killing of 236 children in the region by Israeli forces since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
But its prediction-market bet shows how these platforms are beginning to outgrow their YOLO beginnings and could one day underpin big parts of traditional finance.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 June 2026
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Even the set for Simon’s modest apartment on Lexington Avenue evoked Cretton’s humble beginnings.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The attack comes as the NYPD investigates a troubling string of chilling assaults against older New Yorkers.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2026
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During the more than two-year span when the alleged crimes took place, Feigenbaum said that the only person who knew the full extent of what happened was Campbell, with several of the victims only finding out about the assaults after the defendant was arrested.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Singer has given up multiple homers in five of his last seven starts.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
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The forward played in 137 games, including 97 starts, over his four seasons at Kansas, which concluded in 2024-25.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Barreto noted that Pratt didn’t take a strong stand against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, hurting his appeal to Latinos.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Demonstrators in Omaha after immigration raids in June 2025.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Recent Harvard commencements have grown much more political.—
Michael Casey,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
Originally called MarchingOrder, Tassel had provided services for commencements for around 20 years before adding the AI name offering.—
Kendall Staton The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Russia appeared to be flexing its military muscle in a show of force with its latest aerial onslaughts on Ukraine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
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Wardley, 31, had never lost in 21 bouts before Saturday, and somehow withstood numerous onslaughts from Dubois (23-3) without ever touching the canvas in a remarkable display of courage.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Noun
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In the past few years, Underwood has come to realize that a bunch of barking alphas may not, in fact, be the best way to build a successful pack.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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As a ballplayer, Kent was as irascible as Bonds; the two alphas reportedly brawled behind clubhouse doors, and famously clashed in the dugout during a 2002 game, when Bonds lunged for Kent’s throat and pushed him against the wall.—
Jeremy Collins,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Onsets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onsets. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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