onslaught

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: on=slaught

CIDE DICTIONARY

onslaught, n. [OE. on on + slaught, slaht, slaughter. See Slaughter.].

•  An attack; an onset; esp., a furious or murderous attack or assault.  [1913 Webster]

  "By storm and onslaught to proceed."  [1913 Webster]
•  A bloody fray or battle.  Jamieson.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

onslaught, n. a fierce attack.

Etymology

earlier anslaight f. MDu. aenslag f. aen on + slag blow, with assim. to obs. slaught slaughter

THESAURUS

onslaught

abuse, aggravated assault, aggression, amphibious attack, appulse, armed assault, assailing, assailment, assault, attack, banzai attack, battering, berating, bitter words, blackening, blitz, blitzkrieg, breakthrough, brunt, bulldozing, bulling, bump, butchery, cannon, carambole, carom, charge, clash, collision, concussion, contumely, counterattack, counteroffensive, coup de main, crack-up, crash, crippling attack, crump, crunch, dead set at, descent on, diatribe, disorderliness, diversion, diversionary attack, drive, encounter, execration, flank attack, forcible seizure, frontal attack, gas attack, hammering, hard words, head-on attack, impact, impingement, infiltration, invective, jawing, jeremiad, killing, laying waste, lightning attack, lightning war, looting, mass attack, massacre, mauling, meeting, megadeath, mugging, obstreperousness, offense, offensive, onset, overkill, panzer warfare, percussion, philippic, pillaging, push, ramming, rape, rating, revilement, riot, rioting, run against, run at, rush, sacking, sally, screed, shock, shock tactics, sideswipe, slaughter, sledgehammering, smash, smash-up, smashing, sortie, sowing with salt, strike, thrusting, tirade, tongue-lashing, unprovoked assault, unruliness, vilification, violation, vituperation, whomp

ROGET THESAURUS

onslaught

Attack

N attack, assault, assault and battery, onset, onslaught, charge, aggression, offense, incursion, inroad, invasion, irruption, outbreak, estrapade, ruade, coupe de main, sally, sortie, camisade, raid, foray, run at, run against, dead set at, storm, storming, boarding, escalade, siege, investment, obsession, bombardment, cannonade, fire, volley, platoon fire, file fire, fusillade, sharpshooting, broadside, raking fire, cross fire, volley of grapeshot, whiff of the grape, feu d'enfer, cut, thrust, lunge, pass, passado, carte and tierce, home thrust, coupe de bec, kick, punch, battue, razzia, Jacquerie, dragonnade, devastation, eboulement, assailant, aggressor, invader, base of operations, point of attack, echelon, attacking, aggressive, offensive, obsidional, up in arms, on the offensive, Int, up and at them!, the din of arms, the yell of savage rage, the shriek of agony, the groan of death, their fatal hands no second stroke intend, thirst for glory quells the love of life.