onslaught

[on-slawt, awn-]

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noun

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

Nearby words

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for onslaught

Nearby, Loescher added, parking lots are a great place to see the onslaught.
The Fiery Underground Oil Pit Eating L.A.|Geoff Manaugh|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the onslaught of the elements has helped raise tensions to the point where a new explosion is expected any day.
Ukraine Could Explode in the Next 48 Hours|Anna Nemtsova|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now Tehran is making mass arrests to try to stop the onslaught.
Iran Says It’s Under Attack by ISIS|Jassem Al Salami|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She said the weapons were meant for ISIS troops involved in the onslaught on Rojava.
The Turks to ISIS: ‘Let’s Make a Deal’|Thomas Seibert|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

More than a dozen times he rescued the U.S. from the Belgian onslaught, improbably blocking shot after shot.
Team USA Lost, but Tim Howard Is a Winner|Emily Shire|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before this onslaught, the Spaniards retreated, but in good order.
Cuba|Arthur D. Hall
These giants were not, however, the most forward in the onslaught.
Australia Twice Traversed, The Romance of Exploration|Ernest Giles
The huge concert piano resounded under the onslaught of her broad hands.
Tales of the Five Towns|Arnold Bennett
It was glorious to see these lads of fifteen and sixteen daily withstanding the onslaught of the mighty naval guns.
With Steyn and De Wet|Philip Pienaar
Marius sent his officers among the troops with orders to stand still and await the onslaught.
A Spring Walk in Provence|Archibald Marshall

British Dictionary definitions for onslaught

onslaught

noun

a violent attack

Word Origin for onslaught

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for onslaught

onslaught

1620s, anslaight, somehow from or on analogy of Dutch aanslag "attack," from Middle Dutch aenslach, from aen "on" (see on) + slach "blow," related to slaen "slay." Spelling influenced by obsolete (since c.1400) English slaught (n.) "slaughter," from Old English sleaht (see slaughter (n.)). No record of its use in 18c.; apparently revived by Scott.