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
Verb
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Frantic runs burst through the music, while the last movement surprises with its sudden force.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
11 July 2025 -
In early May 2025, oil briefly hit its lowest price in four years after OPEC and its allies (OPEC+) surprised the market with an accelerated output hike for the summer, a move Trump himself had previously called for.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Verb
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This creator, in the true sense of the word, adds a touch here and there, drapes or lets fall the folds of a cape or a huge collar, borrows from all the epochs of fashion and interprets them all, and in the sum total, never fails to amaze us with his exquisite audacity.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
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The Teton Range, covered in powder, amazes as far as the eye can see.—
DeMarco Williams,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Dangerous enough to raise the stakes, but not too gruesome to shock young viewers.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
5 July 2025
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More than a year after a 19-year-old college student's murder shocked Milwaukee and prompted waves of outcry, the man accused of killing her is finally on trial.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
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The Princess of Wales also stunned in a gold cape dress for the No Time to Die James Bond premiere in 2021 and for a 2023 State Visit by the South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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Friends told me of arriving at a familiar spot for the first time after the cease-fire and being stunned by the sight of buildings ripped open by a blast.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Your trash schedule might not be top of mind this Independence Day between going to fireworks displays, making a last-minute run to the grocery store or getting startled by loud booms.—
Eleanor Nash
July 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2025
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According to a crash report, a cicada flew into the driver's window, startling the driver.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Soon, as orders poured in, Spencer was in a pizza-making frenzy, putting them in the oven, removing and slicing them with a rocking pizza cutter, and boxing them.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
11 July 2025
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But Alcaraz collected the next four points by forcing mistakes by Fritz to finish off the win, then rocked back on his heels, spread his arms wide and screamed.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Teoscar Hernández, as always right by Pages’ side, was astonished.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
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She is simultaneously astonished and grateful that there is a 50th Mr. Irrelevant.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
24 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstrike. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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