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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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 Their tardiness, which saw the start delayed by half an hour, was continued on the field with India looking like a rabble in the face of the onslaught from Buttler and Brook. — Paul Newman, New York Times, 12 July 2026 The onslaught continued in the second quarter, with the Aces leading by as many as 37 points before taking a 57-22 advantage into the break. — ABC News, 11 July 2026 Salgado Araujo’s death has sparked an onslaught of demands for accountability from state and local officials. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 10 July 2026 Others worry the onslaught of information will create a culture of hyperfocusing on data, leading to unnecessary panic and restrictive food behaviors. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for onslaught

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onslaught

Noun

Iran’s new energy weapon Following the start of US- and Israeli-led attacks on February 28, Iran almost immediately declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, creating the largest oil supply shock in history.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
While setting up an attack near the France box, midfielder Dani Olmo overcame a hard challenge that knocked him down to play a through ball to Pedro Porro.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Instead, the Argentines should enjoy enormous credit for an all-out assault in the game’s final 10 or 12 minutes.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Syrsky is known as a more traditional commander, and his reforms have focused on forming new infantry assault groups and procuring traditional weapons.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Iran did claim in this year’s war that Erbil was one of the targets of its air force during the offensive its fighters took in the first days of the war, although this remains unconfirmed.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
The group built underground networks through assassinations, extortion, intimidation and infiltration before launching its offensive.

— Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

The business remained open Saturday afternoon, but employees declined to comment on the raid when reached by phone.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 July 2026
Gyorgy Sarosi, Hungary vs Italy, 1938 Hungary get back into it with a lightning-quick raid down the right, and skipper Sarosi is in the middle to convert a drilled cross.

— Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of raid

Noun

James was also utilized as a facilitator and had his share of struggles running the offense smoothly.

— Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Along came evening ice time in Edina, jerseys, referees, fans and even a few celebrity coaches directing the 4-on-4 action that’s heavy on offense and showmanship, and light on defense and fundamentals.

— Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 July 2026

Definition of offense

Noun

Yet the franchise, for all its mayhem, didn’t run on belligerence, or at least channelled its aggression in a disarming way.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Even after the sub-par performance against Paraguay – admittedly, the South Americans’ physicality and aggression contributed to that – the fans’ belief never wavered.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

However, strikes were reported as far north as Semnan, just east of Tehran and home to a ballistic missile complex, pointing to a broader range of locations than in previous salvoes.

— Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
The American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, killed at least seven troops and wounded more than 260 people across the country, Iranian officials said.

— Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Definition of strike

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onsets

onslaught

onslaughts

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“Onslaught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onslaught. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of onslaught

noun

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