fusillade
Americannoun
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a simultaneous or continuous discharge of firearms.
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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
In the unprecedented wind-driven fires of January, a fusillade of embers flew from burning hillside brush to neighborhoods, igniting houses and any fencing and furniture around them that would burn.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2025
The Fed said it would hold rates steady to give more time to see how its fusillade of hikes over the last 15 months is affecting the economy.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 14, 2023
After a few minutes, despite their fears of another fusillade, they said, they ran to assist the victim in the lot.
From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2023
That points to something wider: while the fusillade of insults moves its object out of the embrace of the community, it seeks to move its speaker closer to the center.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
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.
