bombshell

noun

ˈbäm-ˌshel How to pronounce bombshell (audio)
Definition of bombshellnext
as in surprise
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected discovering that I had a long-lost sister was an absolute bombshell

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bombshell The biggest bombshell dropped in 2017. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 28 June 2026 Casa Amor bombshell Alannah Keyser is breaking her silence after she was removed from Love Island USAseason eight when a video resurfaced of her using the N-word. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 28 June 2026 Keyser was ejected from Love Island on June 25, after entering the season as a Casa Amor bombshell and sparking a connection with season 8 Islander Zach Georgiou. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 28 June 2026 Dumpings can happen by elimination, by public vote—every week or so, viewers can choose their favorite islanders or pick who a new bombshell should pair up with—or, more diabolically, by the other islanders’ selection. — Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bombshell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombshell
  1. surprise
  2. shock
  3. jolt
  4. revelation
Noun
  • Atlanta, to no one’s surprise, remains entrenched in the mix of rotating CFP sites.
    — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
  • His predecessor, Joe Biden, made a surprise visit to the country in 2023 as president, nearly a year after the conflict with Russia began.
    — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • Season 3 of the series returned with a bloody episode and a skyrocketing death toll, which continues to rise, as the rival Targaryen factions clashed in the shock-and-awe-inspiring Battle of the Gullet.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Rosenqvist’s departure was a bit of a shock, but Scott Dixon decision to leave Chip Ganassi Racing after 25 years with the team was of seismic proportions.
    — Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of shock
Noun
  • Part of what’s at work is a reasonable desire to give a party with more than its share of grizzled congressional veterans a jolt of youthful energy.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • World Cup enthusiasm has given a jolt to prediction market platform Rothera, a joint venture between Susquehanna International Group and Robinhood.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 4 July 2026
Definition of jolt
Noun
  • The controller’s office began tracking the salaries of public employees in 2010 amid the revelation that leaders in the working-class town of Bell in southeast Los Angeles County were receiving some of the largest salaries in the country.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Genuine trust is built through consistent, respectful behavior and how minor revelations are handled, not just policies.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of revelation

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Bombshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombshell. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bombshell

Nglish: Translation of bombshell for Spanish Speakers

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