thunderstrike

verb

ˈthən-dər-ˌstrīk How to pronounce thunderstrike (audio)
Definition of thunderstrikenext
as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected everyone was thunderstruck when she quit her job without warning

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thunderstrike
  1. surprise
  2. amaze
  3. shock
  4. stun
  5. startle
  6. astonish
Verb
  • But to go seven years without making the playoffs would have surprised any skeptic back then — if such skeptics even existed.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Guests are often surprised by dishes like the Razor Clams Casino and our Pistachio Pesto Pasta.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of surprise
Verb
  • Just before halftime, van Persie slipped past the Spanish defensive line to receive a long-range pass from teammate Daley Blind and looped the ball over Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a first-time diving header that amazed the audience.
    — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
  • For the majority of viewers who held out for the subscription streaming release rather than paying to rent or purchase, this news is amaze, amaze, amaze.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of amaze
Verb
  • Severe droughts and searing heat across vast swathes of southern Europe destroyed large parts of the olive oil harvest, culminating in a dizzying price rally that shocked industry veterans and consumers alike.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Lam’s account shocked many people in the former British colony, which Beijing promised would maintain its Western-style civil liberties for 50 years after its return to China in 1997.
    — Kanis Leung, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of shock
Verb
  • Outsiders were stunned by this American phenomenon, which was at times both refreshing, and kinda sad.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • Current and former Homeland Security officials and federal law enforcement officers were stunned Monday evening by the department’s explanation of what unfolded in Maine, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a man.
    — Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
Definition of stun
Verb
  • Pochettino’s sources of American sports culture inspiration There were some aspects of American culture, and specifically American sports culture, that clearly startled Pochettino.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Today Twain would be startled by the passivity of a once-mighty Congress that has all but crumbled in the face of pressure from the White House.
    — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • Having walked through factory floors, presented in boardrooms across five continents and coached leaders through every wave of disruption automation could throw at them, I am astonished at how fast AI adoption is currently escalating.
    — Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Ice at a party doesn’t sound revolutionary today (think of how many tons of it that wedding at MSG must’ve used), but on this day in 1850, when waiters appeared carrying bottles of champagne on ice, guests—accustomed to warm wine—were astonished.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
Definition of astonish
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.

Browse Nearby Words

thunderstorms
thunderstrike
thunderstrikes
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Cite this Entry

“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstrike. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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