ONSLAUGHT Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

onslaught

noun

ˈän-ˌslȯt

Definition of onslaught

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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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of onslaught In a single onslaught, 2,977 lives were taken in the deadliest one-day attack on US soil since the Battle of Antietam. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026 Homeowners in Dana Point are working to install emergency protection from the onslaught of waves, including a boulder barrier, according to the statement from the city. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Hundreds of passengers were crammed in there with us, many of them families with children, all waiting for the Russian onslaught to cease. — Eric Schmidt, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026 There are more than 120,000 hotel rooms in London, and an onslaught of excellent openings over the past few years has raised the bar considerably for new arrivals. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onslaught

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onslaught

Noun

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said Tuesday that Russian strikes on Kyiv had killed one person and wounded seven other people since the start of the day, with attacks carried out on the capital's gas stations.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
The number of products deployed or dollars spent says little about an organization’s ability to withstand an attack.

— Shane Buckley, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

The driver of the pickup truck, 21-year-old Jesse David Lovato, has since been arrested and is facing charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault, according to the outlets.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2026
The assault was a result of a confrontation with another group of fairgoers.

— Frankie McLister, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Its interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former al-Qa’eda militant who led the rebel offensive that overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has been struggling to rebuild a nation devastated by almost 14 years of civil war.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
According to foreign military sources, the United States and Israel had planned just such a massive air offensive in early August that would have been far larger and more damaging than earlier bombings.

— JAMES F. JEFFREY, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

During last year’s raids on homes owned by Kadgien and her sister in Mar del Plata, Argentine police also seized two 19th-century paintings, along with other prints and engravings.

— Sergio Farella, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
The deal comes eight months after Washington ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a military raid and co-opted the remaining regime led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez.

— Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of raid

Noun

Although Inter Miami boasts the league’s top scorer in Messi (18 goals) and most potent offense with 59 goals, the team’s shaky defense has conceded the fifth-most goals in the East.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Failure to cooperate or lying can lead to criminal charges, including contempt, perjury, obstruction and related offenses that threaten incarceration.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of offense

Noun

That was the most glaring example of the gulf between the two teams in terms of duels, aggression and general competitiveness.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
The savage purge since June of high-momentum stocks – dominated by AI hardware and related industrials – has sapped the bullish aggression of traders, helping to reset tactical sentiment toward a more neutral level.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

One person was killed in Gaza City, while the other was killed when a strike hit tents in Muwasi, according to Shifa and Nasser hospitals.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Ukraine’s deep strikes into Russian territory have added to the war’s civilian death toll; disrupted online commerce, a significant sector in a country as large as Russia; and prompted gasoline shortages.

— MICHAEL KIMMAGE, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of strike

Browse Nearby Words

onsets

onslaught

onslaughts

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“Onslaught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onslaught. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of onslaught

noun

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