on·slaught ( n slôt , ôn -)n.1. A violent attack. 2. An overwhelming outpouring: an onslaught of third-class mail.
[Alteration (influenced by obsolete slaughte, slaughter) of Dutch aanslag, a striking at, from Middle Dutch aenslach : aen-, on; see an- in Indo-European roots + slach, a striking.] |
onslaught Noun a violent attack [Middle Dutch aenslag]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | onslaught - a sudden and severe onset of troubletrouble - an event causing distress or pain; "what is the trouble?"; "heart trouble" | | 2. | onslaught - (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn"military operation, operation - activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign); "it was a joint operation of the navy and air force" assault - close fighting during the culmination of a military attack charge - an impetuous rush toward someone or something; "the wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary"; "the battle began with a cavalry charge" banzai attack, banzai charge - a mass attack of troops without concern for casualties; originated by Japanese who accompanied it with yells of `banzai' blitzkrieg, blitz - a swift and violent military offensive with intensive aerial bombardment strike - an attack that is intended to seize or inflict damage on or destroy an objective; "the strike was scheduled to begin at dawn" counterattack, countermove - an attack by a defending force against an attacking enemy force in order to regain lost ground or cut off enemy advance units etc. firing, fire - the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy; "hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes"; "they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire" strafe - an attack of machine-gun fire or cannon fire from a low flying airplane; "the next morning they carried out a strafe of enemy airfields" | | 3. | onslaught - the rapid and continuous delivery of linguistic communication (spoken or written); "a barrage of questions"; "a bombardment of mail complaining about his mistake"language, linguistic communication - a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols; "he taught foreign languages"; "the language introduced is standard throughout the text"; "the speed with which a program can be executed depends on the language in which it is written" |
onslaught noun attack, charge, campaign, strike, rush, assault, raid, invasion, offensive, blitz, onset, foray, incursion, onrush, inroad << OPPOSITE retreat
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