bombshell

noun

ˈbäm-ˌshel How to pronounce bombshell (audio)
Definition of bombshellnext
as in surprise
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected discovering that I had a long-lost sister was an absolute bombshell

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bombshell With decades devoted to more mainstream roles befitting of the blonde bombshell, Anderson now embraces projects that both challenge and scare her. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 July 2026 But the bigger bombshell isn’t some secret admission or smoking gun. — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026 As Vanity Fair’s Chris Smith wrote in his May bombshell profile of LSU’s firestarter head football coach, The Lane Kiffin Show is never dull. — Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026 After Terry entered the villa earlier in the season as a bombshell, alongside Caleb McDaniel and Sol Mýa, she initially got coupled up with Gabriel Vasconcelos due to a fan vote. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bombshell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombshell
  1. surprise
  2. shock
  3. jolt
  4. revelation
Noun
  • Cape Verde’s fairytale run in the 2026 World Cup caught a lot of people by surprise – but not Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo.
    — Andrew McNicol, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • So, perhaps there should be little surprise over the next three venues on the list.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • This sleeker style has a gel sole for shock impact on a run or hike.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
  • An independent financial economist has partnered with Kalshi on a new AI tool on top of the prediction-market exchange that aims to help small businesses hedge against everything from bad weather to election shocks—without hiring a Wall Street bank.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of shock
Noun
  • Mercury in Leo will also harmonize with Uranus in Gemini, which is equivalent to an intellectual jolt of inspiration.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Others—my preference—add a swipe of Dijon and a smattering of sliced cornichons, for a kick of spice and jolt of acidity.
    — Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of jolt
Noun
  • In the past few weeks, new revelations in the OpenAI Hugging Face security breach have shown that agents are able to take advantage of system weaknesses to move at speeds that humans are unable to properly address.
    — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Both Kersten and Wohmann are travelling with their respective spouses, Irmgard and Winfried (Susanne Wuest and Timocin Ziegler), whose strained silences and sudden revelations reveal volumes about life with their more difficult partners.
    — Alissa Simon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of revelation

Browse Nearby Words

bombs
bombshell
bombshells
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bombshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombshell. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bombshell

Nglish: Translation of bombshell for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All