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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
  • Rådström, a Swede, was surprised by the layers of hierarchy at the German company and the sheer volume of decisions that crossed her desk as CEO.
    — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026
  • That surprised some people inside UM because of Kadre’s friendship with John Miller, the president of Adidas North America.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of surprise
Verb
  • Perhaps what amazed me the most was the breadth and the depth to which a general American public seemed to be at a tipping point around the exorbitant cost of health care and how cavernous the gap is between the one percent and the 99 percent.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But of the many falsehoods told by them, there was one which quite amazed me.
    — Agnes Callard, The New York Review of Books, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of amaze
Verb
  • Keith gained notoriety for his work with superstars like Beyonce, Cardi B, Drake and Travis Scott, and his death shocked the hip-hop community.
    — Deena Zaru, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The influx of immigrants shocked this small town Lockland had for decades been home to a small population of West Africans who’d come to Ohio in the 1990s because of political and racial oppression in Mauritania.
    — Claire Galofaro, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of shock
Verb
  • Video footage from an AP camera crew shows damage to the building, then stunned and wounded people emerging.
    — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Suhey, 68, died in his sleep Saturday night, according to multiple teammates who were stunned.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of stun
Verb
  • Their approach startled the predator, who took off with the mother godwit in its claws.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • While holding Gnocchi, a large street cleaning truck whipped down the street and startled him into clawing away.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • The astonished looks on his team-mates’ faces would underline that fact.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The crowd in the picture was equally astonished while the event unfolded.
    — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 8 Sep. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstrike. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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