thunderstrike

verb

thun·​der·​strike ˈthən-dər-ˌstrīk How to pronounce thunderstrike (audio)
thunderstruck ˈthən-dər-ˌstrək How to pronounce thunderstrike (audio) ; thunderstruck also thunderstricken ˈthən-dər-ˌstri-kən How to pronounce thunderstrike (audio) ; thunderstriking ˈthən-dər-ˌstrī-kiŋ How to pronounce thunderstrike (audio) ; thunderstrikes

transitive verb

1
: to strike with sudden and usually great wonder or surprise : astonish
used in the passive
was thunderstruck at the news
2
archaic : to strike by or as if by lightning
… wake, man, ere God thunderstrike MayenceRobert Browning

Examples of thunderstrike in a Sentence

everyone was thunderstruck when she quit her job without warning

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thunderstrike was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near thunderstrike

Cite this Entry

“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thunderstrike. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!