ONSET Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

onset

noun

ˈȯn-ˌset

Definition of onset next

as in attack

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence the walls withstood the onset of the first battalion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in beginning

the point at which something begins the claim that if you take enough vitamin C at the onset of a cold, you'll often recover faster

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of onset Summitt’s Tennessee Lady Volunteers never missed the NCAA Tournament during her 38 years of coaching, which ended following a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. —

Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Mar. 2026 The one-time injection of $20 million in Pullman is for the 2026-27 competition year to cover a shortfall in the Cougars’ operating budget caused, in part, by the onset of revenue sharing — an issue that did not exist in the fall of 2023 when WSU and OSU took the departing schools to court. —

Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026 White tie fell out of favor at the onset of World War I. —

Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026 Gas prices across America have already surged since the onset of the conflict. —

Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onset

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onset

Noun

On September 30th, a few days after the attack, Loomer called out Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, the heads of Apple and Google, for making such programs available.

— Oriana van Praag, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Israel strikes Iranian nuclear facilities Bahreini’s announcement came just hours after Iranian state media said two nuclear facilities had come under attack.

— Farnoush Amiri, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026