1
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
2
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
Even though his bloodwork looked normal six months previously, sudden onset or acute renal failure can happen in an old dog for no apparent reason other than age and result in bilious vomiting.
—
Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 8 June 2025
Making moves after learning is just as critical as learning from the onset.
—Fnu Anupama, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Alex’s attorney, Jim Griffin, revealed that the grieving husband and father was considered a person of interest from the onset of the authorities’ investigation into the murders.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 7 June 2025
Coming midseason are Fox’s Doc Martin remake Best Medicine and Memories of a Killer, in which a hitman develops early onset Alzheimer’s.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for onset
Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 8 June 2025
Making moves after learning is just as critical as learning from the onset.
—Fnu Anupama, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Alex’s attorney, Jim Griffin, revealed that the grieving husband and father was considered a person of interest from the onset of the authorities’ investigation into the murders.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 7 June 2025
Coming midseason are Fox’s Doc Martin remake Best Medicine and Memories of a Killer, in which a hitman develops early onset Alzheimer’s.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for onset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onset
Noun
-
This is essential to stop further erosion of the rule of law, the attack on democracy, and the threat of authoritarianism.—
Mark A. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Even after that, Microsoft refused to take full responsibility and hasn’t done enough to prevent future attacks.—
Jovante Teague,
Sun Sentinel,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
Bulls will point to yesterday’s event as just the beginning of an exciting path of growth.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
-
He’s been trying really from the beginning to bring the 10 Black mob families together.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Trump's first few months back in office have brought an onslaught of controversial directives, but are people actually protesting more than usual?—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
-
And this is coming from a community that already dealt with an onslaught from Gov. Ron DeSantis over the past three years.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Shohei Ohtani pitched one hitless inning in his second mound start of the season before hitting a three-run triple and a two-run homer, and Max Muncy had a grand slam and a three-run homer in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 13-7 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.—
Greg Beacham,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
-
Shohei Ohtani, who will make his second pitching start of the season Sunday afternoon, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
Immigration enforcement actions, particularly since the raids in Los Angeles in early June, have led to speculation of raids in North Texas.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2025
-
But the heavy-handed nature of the ICE raids threw fuel on the fire—and the administration has used the crisis to vastly expand its power.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Their route to walking across the stage to receive a diploma might have taken some detours and extra years, but the joy in earning a high school diploma or equivalency certificate was evident at the Poway Adult School’s 60th annual commencement ceremony.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 June 2025
-
Video shows Oh asking every attendee to stand up and participate from the commencement stage to the bleachers.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
-
Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
Fellows, who is a Gilroy native, says the event has pumped $12 million back into the community since its inception.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2025
-
The international expansion comes after Anti Social Social Club had largely stuck to its direct-to-consumer, drop model since its inception.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onset. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share