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
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Recent Examples of onset
Shortening days indicate to the insect the onset of cool and cold weather.
—
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
The sport's eleventh team, which officially received approval to enter the premier class early this year, has been gearing up for its debut season, which coincides with the onset of a new era of regulations.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
At its onset, Santor and his family were vacationing in the Cayman Islands.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
There’s some thought that an increase in diagnoses of early-onset colorectal cancer could be exacerbated by differences in screening for younger versus older patients.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onset
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
The sport's eleventh team, which officially received approval to enter the premier class early this year, has been gearing up for its debut season, which coincides with the onset of a new era of regulations.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
At its onset, Santor and his family were vacationing in the Cayman Islands.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
There’s some thought that an increase in diagnoses of early-onset colorectal cancer could be exacerbated by differences in screening for younger versus older patients.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onset
Noun
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As aid groups say famine has already taken hold, the assault risks the lives of remaining hostages—captured by Hamas in its October 2023 attack—while Netanyahu faces mounting political turmoil at home, even as Washington continues to hold Hamas responsible for prolonging the conflict.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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Even when put under lighter sanctions in 2018, during the Salisbury chemical attack, claims of election interference, and criminal cyber operations continued.—
Earl Carr,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The bill replaces the state’s once-a-year test with three shorter exams, to be given at the beginning, middle and end of the school year.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
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From the very beginning of launching her brand, Mutayo set her sights on the world stage.—
Ugonnaora Owoh,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For more than three years, Ukrainian soldiers, conscripts and ordinary civilians have given their lives to defend their country’s borders, and Vasyanovych is speaking to Variety just days before the latest onslaught of Russian missiles on Kyiv.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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The component responsible for this, the divertor, must withstand this incredible onslaught, making its design a critical engineering challenge for the viability of fusion power.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Of course, the 0-1 start is not ideal.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Bergert had previously allowed three runs or fewer in each of his 13 major-league starts.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In California’s strawberry fields, an ICE raid sparked widespread panic and disruption among farmworker communities.—
David Rodriguez Muñoz,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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South Korean workers detained during a massive immigration raid in Georgia Thursday will be returned to South Korea on a chartered flight following negotiations, an official announced Sunday.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Graduates at the University of Toledo commencement ceremony are seen in Toledo, Ohio, on May 5, 2018.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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Gold prices have risen by nearly a third this year, hitting new heights with the commencement of a trade war.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Investigators later confirmed his DNA matched evidence from that case and others, including attacks in Okemos, Michigan, in 1994; Birmingham, Michigan, in 1995; and Columbus, Ohio, in 1997, as well as two assaults in Ventura in the early 1980s.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Though Smith was charged with four counts of assault for scaring and endangering the villagers, troopers did not say he was involved in his mother’s death.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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To showcase the inspiration for its inception, as with many colors in the palette for Celestiq, a sculpture was made.—
Jackie Charniga,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Since its inception, the Plastic Poetry program has expanded across South Florida, from Homestead to Boca Raton, and continues to grow.—
Jonel Juste,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onset. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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