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 Its songs are littered with black holes, disasters, nuclear bombs; there are guttural screams and onslaughts of distorted guitar. — Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026 The onslaught opened with an alley-oop slam by Wembanyama followed by a 3-pointer from Devin Vassell. — CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 What happened in return was an Israeli military onslaught that has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and left most of Gaza destroyed. — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026 Amplified by Ted Lasso‘s pandemic release, Mohammed felt sheltered from much of the onslaught of attention. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onslaught

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onslaught

Noun

Marshall's campaign, for its part, bet heavily on an attack ad surrounding claims that Hamilton protected a pedophile.

— Grace Hills, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
In the Dnipro area, rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble Tuesday morning, after a Russian attack killed one person and wounded 17, local authorities said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Bass went on the offensive as well, hitting Raman over her shifting political positions on public safety, homelessness, housing production and other issues.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Almost from the moment the couples sit down, Wendy goes on the offensive, directing a barrage of questions toward Tia and Robert about the state of their relationship.

— Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

After the raids ramped up in January, tens of thousands of former workers ended up in the capital, Phnom Penh, many sleeping in the streets.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
Washington seized control of Venezuela's oil exports in January after ousting former President Nicolás Maduro in a military raid.

— Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of raid

Noun

But this has been a season when Lakers coach JJ Redick said Doncic has provided the team more than just offense.

— Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
The teen also faces an allegation of having a prior conviction for a violent offense, which qualifies as a strike under California law.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of offense

Noun

The government had been lobbying for such an arrangement for months, framed largely around the threat of Russian aggression against NATO’s Eastern border.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
Rather it is aimed at helping Ukraine deter future Russian aggression, said Bateman, the force commander.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

However, Monday’s strikes appeared limited and did not indicate preparations for an immediate ground operation.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
An Israeli strike in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis killed five people, according to Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were taken.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 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 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of onslaught

noun

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