thunderbolt

noun

thun·​der·​bolt ˈthən-dər-ˌbōlt 

1

a

: a single discharge of lightning with the accompanying thunder

b

: an imaginary elongated mass cast as a missile to earth in the lightning flash

2

a

: a person or thing that resembles lightning in suddenness, effectiveness, or destructive power

b

: a vehement threat or censure

Examples of thunderbolt in a Sentence

He was struck dead by a thunderbolt.

Recent Examples on the Web

The deadlock was broken early by a thunderbolt of a shot from Denver Summit forward Yazmeen Ryan in the 14th minute. — Spencer Baldwin, Denver Post, 13 July 2026

Not for fear of a thunderbolt hurtling through the blue sky and, punitively, creasing his skull. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Even as the Supreme Court was handing down one legal thunderbolt after another last week, the justices were quietly releasing their annual financial reports. — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 8 July 2026

Gueye’s two thunderbolts and Iliman Ndiaye’s solo effort left them with a goal difference of +2 and sitting fifth in the third-place rankings. — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for thunderbolt

• somersault
• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• malt
• sault
• vault
• walt
• asphalt
• assault
• basalt

Kids Definition

thunderbolt

noun

thun·​der·​bolt ˈthən-dər-ˌbōlt 

: a flash of lightning and the thunder that follows it