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

• barrage
• blitz
• blitzkrieg
• bombardment
• cannonade
• drumbeat
• drumfire
• flurry
• hail
• salvo
• shower
• storm
• volley

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

Like a similar fusillade from Tehran in April, the main effect of the barrage was to stoke worries that Israel’s retaliation would ignite a regional war that drags in the United States, and opens whole new realms of uncertainty. —Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 7 Oct. 2024

At every turn, Schimberg unleashes a nervy fusillade of ideas: about the unequal distribution of physical beauty, the social privilege that such beauty commands, the challenge of trying to probe these inequities through art. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024

In the case of Venezuela, U.S. officials were — and remain — sharply torn over the financial fusillade. —Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 26 July 2024

Plainclothes Secret Service agents piled atop the president as a fusillade of shots rang out, apparently the Secret Service killing Crooks. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from fusiller "to shoot with a musket volley" (from fusil fusil entry 2 + -iller, causative prefix, going back to Latin -iculāre, derivative of -iculum, instrumental and diminutive suffix) + -ade -ade

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids 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