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 news hit Cadrez like a thunderbolt.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2025
Zeus could launch thunderbolts but also couldn’t keep his trousers on.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
His debut came like a thunderbolt in 1962’s Billy Budd, directed by Peter Ustinov.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
And many of them stuck with it, giving some new thunderbolt—like, say, a Caitlin Clark—a solid base to expand.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thunderbolt
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Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2025
Zeus could launch thunderbolts but also couldn’t keep his trousers on.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
His debut came like a thunderbolt in 1962’s Billy Budd, directed by Peter Ustinov.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
And many of them stuck with it, giving some new thunderbolt—like, say, a Caitlin Clark—a solid base to expand.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thunderbolt
Cite this Entry
“Thunderbolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thunderbolt. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thunderbolt
noun
thun·der·bolt
ˈthən-dər-ˌbōlt
: a flash of lightning and the thunder that follows it
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