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 The onslaught started with a 57-yard touchdown pass on the first offensive snap of the game. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The Edmonton onslaught was punctuated by a pair of short-handed goals the Oilers scored in quick succession in the second period. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 The onslaught aims to terrorize civilians, officials and analysts say, and break their will to resist 4½ years after Russia’s full-scale invasion. — Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 The militant group took over roughly one-third of Iraq after key Iraqi army divisions collapsed and retreated in the onslaught. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onslaught

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onslaught

Noun

The claim that Ukraine has halted its strikes on energy sites could not be independently verified, but neither Russian officials nor media have reported Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries since the energy truce was announced.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Before the current attacks, the airport handled roughly 110,000 passengers a day — similar in scale to Miami International airport.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

The University of Arizona has suspended activities at its fraternities following persistent reports of misconduct, including assault, hazing and drug and alcohol-related behavior, a university official said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Fleming was received from Los Angeles County in 2019 to serve a 42-year sentence for second-degree robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

— Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Those are good defenses, but that stat is borderline offensive.

— Mac Engel October 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2026
Forces loyal to the UAE also appear to be taking part in the offensive, a sign of at least a partial thaw between the kingdom and the UAE.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

When war breaks out, he is shaken from his sleep and runs for an air-raid shelter.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
When compared to Operation Free MacArthur Park's summer raids, Hochman said Skid Row covers a 50-city-block area, making the park's enforcement almost like a test run for Thursday's massive operation.

— Julie Sharp, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of raid

Noun

The young defense, which dominated the NFC’s worst offense statistically in Minnesota, will continue to get tested.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
In addition to an explosive offense that was top 10 in both home runs and slugging percentage during the regular season, the White Sox have employed a unique pitching strategy, relying heavily on their relievers to throw multiple innings.

— Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of offense

Noun

On the contrary, airpower remains the most potent piece of the United States’ conventional forces, as well as its main source of both deterrent capacity and warfighting advantage against conventional aggression by hostile states.

— Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Publicly sharing Hasan’s death is unlikely to deter future acts of monstrous aggression, as Hegseth claims.

— Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

While Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia is planning to escalate with drone or rocket strikes on European allies supporting Ukraine, other countries have called for calm.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
East2West News agency reported Monday that three civilians — a 16-year-old boy and two women, ages 19 and 51 — were killed in a strike near a grocery store in the Kharkiv region.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of onslaught

noun

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