: an especially fierce attack
… the tremendous onslaught across the Rhine …—
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
also
: something resembling such an attack
an onslaught of technological changes
Employers are expecting an onslaught of recent college graduates.
Synonyms of onslaught
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
These were claps of relief and encouragement from a European audience bracing for a mauling like JD Vance’s onslaught last year.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
At the other end of the ice, Dostal played well but was helpless to slow down much of the onslaught.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
There is inevitably going to be an onslaught of thinkpieces and TikTok rants dedicated to chastising this casting.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
The onslaught of bad news elicited howling in Canada, groans in Atlanta and frenetic Googling to determine just what, exactly, is the hamate bone.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onslaught
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Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
At the other end of the ice, Dostal played well but was helpless to slow down much of the onslaught.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
There is inevitably going to be an onslaught of thinkpieces and TikTok rants dedicated to chastising this casting.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
The onslaught of bad news elicited howling in Canada, groans in Atlanta and frenetic Googling to determine just what, exactly, is the hamate bone.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onslaught
Cite this Entry
“Onslaught.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onslaught. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
onslaught
noun
on·slaught
ˈän-ˌslȯt 
ˈȯn-
: a violent attack
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