onslaught

noun

on·​slaught ˈän-ˌslȯt How to pronounce onslaught (audio)
ˈȯn-
: an especially fierce attack
the tremendous onslaught across the RhineSir Winston Churchill
also : something resembling such an attack
an onslaught of technological changes
Employers are expecting an onslaught of recent college graduates.

Examples of onslaught in a Sentence

an onslaught by the enemy the massive onslaught of enemy troops caught the country by surprise
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Warm ocean water in these areas can cause storms to rapidly intensify right before landfall, giving communities less time to prepare for the onslaught. Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 30 May 2025 The chaos the president’s tariff onslaught caused in the U.S. Treasury market quickly spread to Japan, boosting yields. William Pesek, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 After a contentious week of back-and-forth dissing, most think Bada$$ has held his own against the onslaught of disses. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2025 But the fate of Palestinian people and the war in Gaza, where the dead are piling up in recent days under an Israeli onslaught, appears to have received short shrift. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for onslaught

Word History

Etymology

modification of Dutch aanslag act of striking; akin to Old English an on and to Old English slēan to strike — more at slay

First Known Use

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of onslaught was circa 1625

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Cite this Entry

“Onslaught.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onslaught. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

onslaught

noun
on·​slaught ˈän-ˌslȯt How to pronounce onslaught (audio)
ˈȯn-
: a violent attack

More from Merriam-Webster on onslaught

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