as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
the massive onslaught of enemy troops caught the country by surprise
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Recent Examples of onslaught
As a result, he was touched up by the Dodgers, though the Blue Jays’ own offensive onslaught resulted in a Game 1 victory at home.
—
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
The power-play onslaught against the Devils, who entered Thursday on an eight-game winning streak, made up for an especially abysmal last seven games for the Colorado unit.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
This early '80s slasher throwback has the same dynamic sensibilities as a Pixies song, starting off quiet, then getting loud, then going quiet again before exploding in an onslaught of violence that's the stuff of every bible-thumper's worst nightmares.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The goal of the gathering in Honolulu, Hawaii is to help prepare for an onslaught of upcoming robotic and crewed expeditions by multiple nations to explore for, investigate and ultimately utilize lunar polar volatiles.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onslaught
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
The power-play onslaught against the Devils, who entered Thursday on an eight-game winning streak, made up for an especially abysmal last seven games for the Colorado unit.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
This early '80s slasher throwback has the same dynamic sensibilities as a Pixies song, starting off quiet, then getting loud, then going quiet again before exploding in an onslaught of violence that's the stuff of every bible-thumper's worst nightmares.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The goal of the gathering in Honolulu, Hawaii is to help prepare for an onslaught of upcoming robotic and crewed expeditions by multiple nations to explore for, investigate and ultimately utilize lunar polar volatiles.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onslaught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onslaught
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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In addition to the murder charge, Thompson faces charges of committing a terroristic act, aggravated assault, engaging in violent criminal group activity and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to the jail roster.—
Rafael Escalera Montoto,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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He is being held on a $2 million bond for a murder charge and must pay $200,000, as well as a $5,000 bond for an assault charge, to be released.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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That’s with a 44 percent offensive-zone starting percentage.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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David Ellison launched his WBD offensive shortly after closing the Paramount Skydance merger in August with a trio of unsolicited offers for the entire company, all rejected.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Three police officers lean on a silver car blocking a Louvre entrance, hours after thieves carried out a daylight raid on French crown jewels.—
NPR,
NPR,
9 Nov. 2025
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Advertisement 'Exhausted and bruised' The first video from last week, in which agents drive away with a toddler still in the back, took place in Los Angeles during a raid at Home Depot in the Cypress Park neighborhood.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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The Tigers’ offense, which has scored at least 88 points in all three games, erupted for a season-best showing.—
Scott Chasen,
Kansas City Star,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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His reckless decision to escalate the aggression and number of immigration agents is a causal factor, regardless of the outcome of an investigation into this tragic death.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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When the music dissolves into an ethereal, ambient soundscape and a psychedelic, spiritual journey, that’s where finding the right amount of energy, aggression, violence, and grief, to support the story and to explain things that the dialog couldn’t, was the most challenging part.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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And Tagovailoa shook off that early interception with a 9-yard scoring pass to Malik Washington — capping a ferocious seven-minute, 92-yard drive — and then a 38-yard TD strike to Jaylen Waddle.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onslaught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onslaught. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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