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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
His unfussy performance on Monday night caught everyone’s attention, dealing decisively with Everton’s onslaught of corners and blockers in the win at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
—
Ian Irving, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The next level then shifts to Leon, who picks up a chainsaw to cut his way through an onslaught of infected.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Only 40% of the city’s 260,000 residents managed to flee the onslaught, thousands of whom were wounded, the officials said.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
CalOptima, in the meantime, has invested significant resources into educating members about the renewal process and onslaught of new requirements, Kim said.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onslaught
Ian Irving, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The next level then shifts to Leon, who picks up a chainsaw to cut his way through an onslaught of infected.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Only 40% of the city’s 260,000 residents managed to flee the onslaught, thousands of whom were wounded, the officials said.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
CalOptima, in the meantime, has invested significant resources into educating members about the renewal process and onslaught of new requirements, Kim said.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onslaught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onslaught
Noun
-
Several Persian Gulf nations have already reduced or fully shut down oil and natural gas production out of fear of an attack by Iran’s drone or missile arsenal.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Even so, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw fresh drone and missile attacks Saturday morning.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The assault took place both and off campus and during and after school hours, according to the news release.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Jalloh’s lengthy criminal history includes more than 30 arrests for charges of rape, assault, drug possession, property destruction, identity theft, trespassing, firing a weapon, grand larceny, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and pickpocketing.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lebanon has been pulled deep into the war in the Middle East since Hezbollah opened fire to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader, igniting an Israeli offensive which has killed nearly 500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities − with the death toll rising by around 100 a day.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Israel, meanwhile, appears content to keep battering the Islamic Republic, whatever the downstream consequences, while also mustering a new offensive into southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In addition, staff writer Eric Sondheimer placed in the top 10 for short features for his report highlighting the chilling impact ICE raids had on high school football workouts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Then, last summer, LA became the first major US city to face large-scale ICE raids, stoking fear among undocumented immigrants and disrupting the restaurant workforce.—
Emily Wilson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some people were arrested on suspicion of more than one offense, said Keith Sterling, a spokesman for the city.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Current law says only those accused of murder or treason can have bail withheld, but this language expands that possibility to other offenses, such as misdemeanors.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His aggression led to him getting six attempts at the free-throw line.—
Dan Rios,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Smog-forming emissions can interfere with insect communication by breaking down pheromones, causing ant colonies to exhibit aggression toward their own members and neglect their larvae.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The figures would suggest some support among the US public for going after Iran’s nuclear program, though other polling suggests most Americans disapprove of the strikes and thought the administration should have given diplomacy more of a shot.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The company’s cloud computing unit said Monday that one of its facilities in Bahrain was damaged due to a nearby drone strike on Sunday.—
Nur Hikmah Md Ali,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Onslaught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onslaught. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
