Word
onslaught
Phoneticson·slaught, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɔnˌsɫɔt/
UK/ˈɒnslɔːt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very powerful or violent attack that is hard to stop. It can describe a physical fight or a large amount of something difficult to deal with, like work or questions.
n. a fierce or destructive attack; a large-scale, overwhelming onset of something. Often used metaphorically to describe an intense influx of information, demands, or sensory input.
Examples
“The team struggled to survive the onslaught of attacks.”
“After the news broke, the press office faced a constant onslaught of phone calls from concerned citizens.”
“The small coastal village was unprepared for the onslaught of the hurricane, which brought record-breaking winds and a devastating storm surge that reshaped the shoreline.”
Examples
simple
“The team struggled to survive the onslaught of attacks.”
contextual
“After the news broke, the press office faced a constant onslaught of phone calls from concerned citizens.”
complex
“The small coastal village was unprepared for the onslaught of the hurricane, which brought record-breaking winds and a devastating storm surge that reshaped the shoreline.”
Usage
Commonly paired with the preposition 'of' to specify the nature of the attack or influx.
Real-World Examples
“It was right for the Guardian to publish its investigation, and it is wrong that the journalists who did their job responsibly are now being subjected to an onslaught of abuse.” “Simon Woolley, the principal of Homerton College, Cambridge, and Arday’s former mentor, has called for an investigation into the “vicious media onslaught”.” Etymology
From on- + slaught. Formed after Middle Dutch aenslag, aenslach, equivalent to aen + slag, although slaught corresponds to Middle Dutch slacht; slag is cognate with the English weaving term sley. Compare Dutch aanslag and German Anschlag.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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