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barrage

barrage

35 6.8
A large fast stream of questions, messages or criticism sent to someone
  • noun
  • /bəˈrɑːʒ/
translation icon : aluvión
  • In short, effective presidents find ways to manage the near-constant barrage of demands they experience.
  • a barrage of criticism
  • a media barrage
  • a barrage of publicity

It was just, it was a barrage of assessment.

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Examples

  • You should hear the barrage of stupid questions that I get.

  • For the next hour, Dalmar shot a barrage of questions at Annabelle.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And, you know, even if we are being hit with a barrage of lies day in, day out, Yeah.

  • All of which produce nothing but a barrage of useless information.

  • For her, each change comes with a barrage of new stimuli.

  • Are you quite finished with your barrage of insults?

  • There seems to be a constant barrage of images being disseminated across this digital world.

    Academic text (2014)
  • My lunch break offered me no time to recover from the incessant barrage of testing.

    Academic text (1996)
  • And suddenly he was answering yes, calmly, to a barrage of questions that Muriel thought would never stop.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • During the meeting, the manager faced a barrage of complaints from the unhappy employees.

Synonyms

flood
vsbarrage
75 2.4

A very large number of things that arrive suddenly

adds the sense of being aimed quickly at someone or something
outpouring
vsbarrage
42 4.2

A sudden large flow, for example of water, or a strong expression of feeling

is more forceful and often feels like an attack rather than a release
firestorm
vsbarrage
  • Literature
36 6.5

A sudden, strong public reaction of anger or criticism

is alike in intensity but more focused on directed messages rather than anger alone
onslaught
vsbarrage
12 7.9

A sudden large flow of questions or complaints

is similarly rapid but applies broadly to many types of output
deluge
vsbarrage
8 6.8

A very large amount of something that arrives at once

focuses more on speed and attack rather than simple volume alone
tidal wave
vsbarrage
4 3.6

A sudden very strong emotion or reaction that affects many people

is similar but usually refers to rapid directed outpourings toward a target
bombardment
vsbarrage
3 6.1

Many questions or messages sent quickly and repeatedly to someone

is equally fast but emphasizes an overwhelming mass rather than method
torrent of words
vsbarrage
  • Informal
1 6.8

A fast flow of words spoken with strong feeling

covers that speed but applies to words, comments, and other outputs
wave of criticism
vsbarrage
1 3.3

A sudden large amount of criticism aimed at someone or something

is similar but can include comments, questions, or other expressions too
3.8

A large number of complaints arriving at the same time

is broader, covering many types of rapid, aggressive expressions not only complaints
4.5

A sudden large number of people protesting at the same time

is broader, not limited to public disagreement and includes other attacks
7.0

A sudden large wave of comments from many people that follows an event

is similar but often implies a targeted, aggressive stream rather than general responses

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

Compounds

barrage balloon
  • Archaic
8.5

A large balloon tied to the ground with cables to keep low enemy planes away in war

barrage fire
  • Specialized
9.3

A long heavy stream of shots from large guns across a wide area to hit many places

barrage jamming
  • Australian
8.8

A way of stopping radio signals by sending noise across many frequencies at once

How Intense

onslaught
30 7.6
barrage
35 6.8
deluge
8 6.8
flood
75 2.4
stream
150 1.0
to trickle
70 3.4

Surface Forms

barrage singular
barrages plural

Etymology

Barrage comes from French and originally meant a barrier or dam used to 'block' movement, and soldiers used it for a 'barrier of fire' made by many guns. So a barrage of emails or questions is like a fast wall of messages hitting you at once.