fusillade
noun
fu·sil·lade
ˈfyü-sə-ˌläd 
-ˌlād,
ˌfyü-sə-ˈläd,
-ˈlād,
-zə-
1
a
: a number of shots fired simultaneously or in rapid succession
b
: something that gives the effect of a fusillade
a fusillade of rocks and bottles
2
: a spirited outburst especially of criticism
Synonyms
Examples of fusillade in a Sentence
A fusillade of bullets filled the courtyard.
responded calmly to the fusillade of criticism leveled at his design for the memorial
Recent Examples on the Web
Two Bal Harbour condominiums, last sold in 2018 for $1.4 million each, are the subject of a U.S. Justice Department civil forfeiture complaint that’s part of a fusillade of actions enforcing sanctions against Russia.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024
Even for all of the limb-lopping in Kill Bill, nothing in Tarantino's filmography comes close to the fusillade of bullets unleashed here, which by the third act take on a bizarre slapstick quality.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 24 June 2023
The fusillade illustrated a trend that D.C. officials and criminal justice experts have said explains some of the violence in Washington: The growing number of firearms in the city, including some with machine gun capabilities.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024
Trump has tried to blunt Haley’s appeal with a fusillade of messaging on issue after issue, aimed at casting her as an opponent of his MAGA movement who can only prevail with the support of Democrats and independents (in New Hampshire, undeclared voters can vote in either party’s primary).
—Maeve Reston, Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2024
In a siege that lasted 10 days, the Japanese fired mortars and large artillery ahead of banzai charges by fearless soldiers willing to run into fusillades from the Americans’ Browning machine guns.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
In June, the downtown office of Paul López, the Denver clerk and recorder, was attacked overnight with a fusillade of bullets, pockmarking the building’s facade and a ballot drop box and bursting through a window into an office cubicle.
—Michael Wines, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023
This, in turn, sparked a fusillade of fire within Turkey’s film community with several jury members stepping down and many local directors pulling their titles from the lineup in protest.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 30 Sep. 2023
At last week’s BRICS Summit in South Africa — the group consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — China and Russia unleashed a rhetorical fusillade against the United States.
—The Editors, National Review, 1 Sep. 2023
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024
Even for all of the limb-lopping in Kill Bill, nothing in Tarantino's filmography comes close to the fusillade of bullets unleashed here, which by the third act take on a bizarre slapstick quality.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 24 June 2023
The fusillade illustrated a trend that D.C. officials and criminal justice experts have said explains some of the violence in Washington: The growing number of firearms in the city, including some with machine gun capabilities.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024
Trump has tried to blunt Haley’s appeal with a fusillade of messaging on issue after issue, aimed at casting her as an opponent of his MAGA movement who can only prevail with the support of Democrats and independents (in New Hampshire, undeclared voters can vote in either party’s primary).
—Maeve Reston, Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2024
In a siege that lasted 10 days, the Japanese fired mortars and large artillery ahead of banzai charges by fearless soldiers willing to run into fusillades from the Americans’ Browning machine guns.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
In June, the downtown office of Paul López, the Denver clerk and recorder, was attacked overnight with a fusillade of bullets, pockmarking the building’s facade and a ballot drop box and bursting through a window into an office cubicle.
—Michael Wines, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023
This, in turn, sparked a fusillade of fire within Turkey’s film community with several jury members stepping down and many local directors pulling their titles from the lineup in protest.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 30 Sep. 2023
At last week’s BRICS Summit in South Africa — the group consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — China and Russia unleashed a rhetorical fusillade against the United States.
—The Editors, National Review, 1 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fusillade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fusillade
Cite this Entry
“Fusillade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fusillade. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fusillade
noun
fu·sil·lade
ˈfyü-sə-ˌläd
-ˌlād,
-zə-;
ˌfyü-sə-ˈläd,
-ˈlād,
-zə-
1
: a number of shots fired at the same time or rapidly one after another
2
: something like a fusillade of shots
a fusillade of rocks
3
: an outburst especially of criticism
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