onslaught

American  

[on-slawt, awn-] / ˈɒnˌslɔt, ˈɔn- /

noun

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

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onslaught British  

/ ˈɒnˌslɔːt /

noun

1. a violent attack

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Etymology

Origin of onslaught

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

Example Sentences

Officials and analysts say those wealthy countries were ill-equipped for the drone onslaught, having spent billions on top-notch systems designed to counter high-end missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Get ready for an onslaught of Instagram and TikTok posts from influencers who stop by.

From The Wall Street Journal

But with the U.S. and Israel pounding the country, Iranian, Arab and Western officials wonder how long the younger Khamenei would survive the onslaught.

From The Wall Street Journal

Irked residents across Southern California have recently complained to their vector control districts about an onslaught of mosquito activity, many sporting ankle bites to prove it.

From Los Angeles Times

It is leaning into its area of expertise to drive adoption, and hoping that will protect it from the AI onslaught.

From Barron's

Related Words

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