fusillade
Americannoun
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a simultaneous or continuous discharge of firearms.
-
a general discharge or outpouring of anything.
a fusillade of questions.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a simultaneous or rapid continual discharge of firearms
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a sudden outburst, as of criticism
verb
Etymology
Origin of fusillade
First recorded in 1795–1805; from French, equivalent to fusill(er) “to shoot” ( see fusil 1) + -ade -ade 1
Explanation
When you watch an action movie, the hero's deadly fusillade often results in at least one of his enemies being shot. The noun fusillade describes a quick round of gunfire. To correctly pronounce fusillade, say "FEW sill ahd." The word probably reminds you of fuselage, the part of an aircraft where crew members and passengers sit. But the words only sound alike. Fuselage gets its name from its cylinder shape, while fusillade comes from the French word fusil, meaning "musket." Fusillade also can be used in a figurative sense to describe a rapid series of anything, such as a fusillade of punches or a fusillade of questions.
Vocabulary lists containing fusillade
"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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"The Monkey's Paw," Vocabulary from the short story
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National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chinese officials directed a rhetorical fusillade at Ms. Takaichi, and have ratcheted up economic pressure by discouraging Chinese tourism to Japan and restricting rare-earth mineral exports.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026
He announced his gubernatorial run in November with a fusillade of television and digital ads.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025
This fusillade of explosions in quick succession produces a powerful galactic wind blowing gas out of the galaxy.
From Science Magazine • Jan. 8, 2024
With protesters in Lima facing a nearly daily fusillade of tear gas, more people have joined the ranks of deactivators trying to shield them and keep the demonstrations going.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 29, 2023
The phrase volley of abuse, for example, uses the image of a fusillade of bullets to describe an outpouring of anger.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
