onslaught
A fierce attack or a great rush of something.
onslaught in a sentence
- The little tent collapsed under the onslaught of howling wind and hammering rain.
- The goalkeeper faced an onslaught of shots but somehow saved every single one.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to onslaught?
- Aretreat
- Bpeace
- Cattack
- Dcalm
Show the answer
C: attack. The other three mean the opposite of onslaught.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to onslaught?
- Aretreat
- Bcharge
- Cattack
- Drush
Show the answer
A: retreat. The other three mean nearly the same as onslaught.
Words that mean something similar
attack, charge, rush
Words that mean the opposite
retreat, calm, peace
More words about movement & action
- peer: To look very closely and carefully at something that is hard to see.
- pelt: To throw things at someone again and again, or to rain very hard.
- plod: To walk slowly with heavy steps.
- plummet: To fall very fast and suddenly.
- plunge: To fall or dive suddenly downwards.
- pounce: To jump on something suddenly to catch it.
- procure: To get something, often with care or effort.
- prowl: To move around quietly and secretly, like a hunting animal.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test