thunderstrike

verb

thun·​der·​strike ˈthən-dər-ˌstrīk 

thunderstruck ˈthən-dər-ˌstrək  ; thunderstruck also thunderstricken ˈthən-dər-ˌstri-kən  ; thunderstriking ˈthən-dər-ˌstrī-kiŋ  ; 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 Mayence …

—Robert Browning

Synonyms

• surprise
• amaze
• shock
• stun
• startle
• rock
• astonish
• dumfound
• take by surprise

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

Rhymes for thunderstrike

• businesslike
• ladylike
• motorbike
• workmanlike
• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• childlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike