Onslaught: meaning, definitions and examples

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onslaught

[ˈɒn.slɔːt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

violent attack

An onslaught refers to a fierce and destructive attack, often carried out with great force and intensity. It can be used to describe a sudden and overwhelming assault, typically aimed at causing damage or harm.

Synonyms

assault, attack, offensive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
onslaught	Used to describe a fierce and overwhelming attack, often sudden. It can refer to both physical and metaphorical situations, like a sudden rush of people or a barrage of questions. The small village struggled to recover from the onslaught of the invading army. The company faced an onslaught of lawsuits after the scandal broke.
attack	A general term for any act of aggression, whether physical, verbal, or otherwise. It is widely applicable and can be used in many different contexts, from military to personal conflicts. The city was under attack for several days. Her comments felt like a personal attack.
assault	Refers specifically to a violent physical attack or attempt to cause harm to someone. It can also denote an attack on a fortified place. It often has a legal connotation and can be used both literally and metaphorically. The victim survived a brutal assault in the alley. The soldiers prepared for the assault on the enemy stronghold.
offensive	Typically used in military contexts to describe a planned and coordinated series of attacks aimed at defeating an enemy. It can also be used metaphorically to describe aggressive actions or strategies in non-military situations. The general planned a major offensive to retake the territory. The company launched an aggressive marketing offensive to boost sales.

Examples of usage

The enemy launched an onslaught on the village, leaving destruction in their wake.
The onslaught of criticism from the media was relentless and unforgiving.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

large quantity

Onslaught can also refer to a large quantity or overwhelming number of something, often in a negative or unwelcome sense. It implies an overpowering or inundating amount.

Synonyms

avalanche, deluge, flood.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
onslaught	Repeated from the first listing: best used to describe a fierce or violent attack, typically by people or soldiers, conveying a sense of aggression and intensity. The fort was not prepared for the onslaught of enemy troops. The company faced an onslaught of criticism after the scandal.
deluge	This term is often used to describe a great flood of water, but can also figuratively describe being overwhelmed by a large quantity of something, such as work or information. The deluge caused widespread damage in the coastal town. He was caught in a deluge of paperwork on his first day back from vacation.
flood	Most commonly used for describing water overflowing onto normally dry land, but it can also describe a large amount of something arriving at the same time, often in a less intense fashion compared to 'deluge'. The heavy rains caused a flood in the basement. She was greeted by a flood of messages on her birthday.
avalanche	This word is appropriate for describing a large mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside, but can also be used metaphorically to describe an overwhelming quantity or situation. The sudden avalanche buried the mountain village under meters of snow. She received an avalanche of emails after her promotion.

Examples of usage

The onslaught of work assignments was too much for one person to handle.
We were faced with an onslaught of complaints after the new policy was implemented.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Middle English 'onslaught', which originally meant a 'sudden attack'.
It has roots in the Old Norse word 'áslátta', meaning 'to strike against' or 'to attack'.
In modern language, its use has expanded beyond the physical to describe overwhelming bursts in various contexts.

Historical Context

In warfare, the term has been used to describe significant offensives, particularly noted during battles like World War II.
Literature often reflects 'onslaught' in describing tumultuous battles, such as in Shakespeare's plays where characters face overwhelming odds.
The term gained popularity as a metaphoric expression in the 20th century to describe overwhelming trends, like cultural shifts or technological change.

Pop Culture

In video games, 'onslaught' is often used to describe waves of enemies players must fend off, creating a sense of urgency and challenge.
Popular music has sometimes embraced the term to express extreme emotions, often in songs dealing with internal battles or social issues.
Movies often depict 'onslaught' during climactic battle scenes, emphasizing the chaos and intensity of conflict.

Psychological Impact

Experiencing an 'onslaught' of stress or information can lead to feelings of overwhelm, impacting mental well-being.
In therapy, the concept can describe how individuals feel overwhelmed by emotions or experiences, akin to being attacked.
The term showcases the human response to extreme pressures, revealing how the mind can react under siege.

Literature

Famous authors like Ernest Hemingway and Stephen King have utilized the term to evoke feelings of intensity during critical moments in their narratives.
The dramatic nature of 'onslaught' helps convey critical scenes of conflict, pushing the plot forward in various genres.
Poetry often reflects 'onslaught' in the context of emotional bombardment, offering vivid imagery that encapsulates intense feelings.

Translations

Translations of the word "onslaught" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ataque

🇮🇳 हमला

🇩🇪 Überfall

🇮🇩 serangan

🇺🇦 напад

🇵🇱 nawałnica

🇯🇵 攻撃

🇫🇷 attaque

🇪🇸 ataque

🇹🇷 saldırı

🇰🇷 공격

🇸🇦 هجوم

🇨🇿 útok

🇸🇰 útok

🇨🇳 攻击

🇸🇮 napad

🇮🇸 árás

🇰🇿 шабуыл

🇬🇪 შეტევა

🇦🇿 hücum

🇲🇽 ataque

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,240, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

...
16237 honeymoon
16238 harden
16239 hydrodynamic
16240 onslaught
16241 tyrannical
16242 opacity
16243 stunted
...