onslaught

[ on-slawt, awn- ]

noun

1. an onset, assault, or attack, especially a vigorous one.

onslaught

/ ˈɒnˌslɔːt /

noun

1. a violent attack

Word History and Origins

Origin of onslaught¹

1615–25; < Dutch aanslag a striking, (earlier) attack (equivalent to aan on + slag blow, stroke; akin to slay ), with assimilation to obsolete slaught slaughter

Word History and Origins

Origin of onslaught¹

C17: from Middle Dutch aenslag, from aan on + slag a blow, related to slay

Example Sentences

Outspent in the general election and subjected to an onslaught of negative ads and mailers and headlines in the weeks leading up to election day, she nevertheless trounced De León, a Latino political giant now reduced to a cautionary tale after his fall from grace for his role in a secretly recorded conversation that upended L.A. politics.

From Los Angeles Times

To combat the onslaught, the site’s Community Notes feature acts as the law—but it’s an illusion of control.

From Slate

The onslaught of symptoms reminded her of the advice a friend had given her years ago.

From BBC

The result was an onslaught of social media criticism of the billionaires and memes about their excessive travel.

From Los Angeles Times

They must simultaneously figure out how to rally their coalition against the coming onslaught of far-right policy madness while conducting a thorough autopsy of how the party has once again found itself in this dreadful position.

From Slate

Related Words

• aggression
• assault
• blitz
• incursion
• invasion
• offensive
• onset