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

More than half a dozen businesses in the alley and on Santee Street told The Times their sales remained down after the onslaught of federal immigration raids, with some doing better than others.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Now they’re up against an onslaught of layoffs throughout the industry.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Most of all we should use em dashes because they are a declaration of humanity in the face of AI’s onslaught.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The sudden onslaught of relatives made her head spin.

Read more on Literature

They survived a first-half onslaught in Copenhagen to earn a valuable point.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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