as in loud
marked by a high volume of sound
the preacher delivered a thundering speech on the decline of morality in modern society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in roaring
to make a long loud deep noise or cry
as we got closer, the waterfall thundered louder and louder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shouting
to speak so as to be heard at a distance
a hotheaded man who was always thundering about the crooks and idiots running the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 thundering
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
The track is filled with operatic vocals, a thundering choir, and a rich, swelling orchestra backing her — plus, there are cameos from Björk and Yves Tumor as well.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Walking up Stamford Street with lorries thundering by.
—Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
Plan a spring visit to enjoy colorful wildflowers, thundering waterfalls, trout fishing, traces of the state’s booming past, and a bit of solitude.
—Jordan Charbonneau, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
The disorientation and disgust that so many people experienced in response to Trump’s thundering, violent proclamations is important.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
The resort is separated from the neighborhood’s upscale boutiques and fast-food restaurants by six-lane Poseidonos Avenue, with thundering traffic around the clock.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
There’s a lot of musical material in this 10-minute overture, and Orozco-Estrada mined it all, from singing melodies to a brief fugue-like passage that migrated through the strings to a thundering climax.
—Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
Harper somehow split the pair of Brooklyn defenders, briefly losing control of the ball, before re-gathering and charging through a wide open lane for a thundering dunk.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026
These sequences of process and investigation are captured with all the verve and nerve-wracking tension of a slick spy thriller, aided by a detailed, thundering soundscape sure to leave you on edge.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom —drawing in the ruthless kings of other Scandinavian countries and even a powerful English ruler — the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling, and utterly magical new Norse saga.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
The track is filled with operatic vocals, a thundering choir, and a rich, swelling orchestra backing her — plus, there are cameos from Björk and Yves Tumor as well.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
That was the beginning of the chants, arguably louder than for any other player in Dodger Stadium history, stronger than Moo-kie, deeper than Fred-die, chants thundering enough to seemingly be heard for a lifetime.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Walking up Stamford Street with lorries thundering by.
—Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
Plan a spring visit to enjoy colorful wildflowers, thundering waterfalls, trout fishing, traces of the state’s booming past, and a bit of solitude.
—Jordan Charbonneau, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
The disorientation and disgust that so many people experienced in response to Trump’s thundering, violent proclamations is important.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
The resort is separated from the neighborhood’s upscale boutiques and fast-food restaurants by six-lane Poseidonos Avenue, with thundering traffic around the clock.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
There’s a lot of musical material in this 10-minute overture, and Orozco-Estrada mined it all, from singing melodies to a brief fugue-like passage that migrated through the strings to a thundering climax.
—Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
Harper somehow split the pair of Brooklyn defenders, briefly losing control of the ball, before re-gathering and charging through a wide open lane for a thundering dunk.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026
These sequences of process and investigation are captured with all the verve and nerve-wracking tension of a slick spy thriller, aided by a detailed, thundering soundscape sure to leave you on edge.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thundering
Adjective
-
One of the loudest cheers came when Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair was shown on the video board.—
Ian Harrison,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
He was pulled for lefty Tyler Samaniego and walked off the mound to loud boos from the Fenway Park crowd.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Liddell stood for the first time on a walkway next the the roaring water of the Blue Island Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration Friday, just after city and state officials and advocates unveiled accessibility improvements to the station that is also a community green space.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
The Lakers momentarily came roaring back in the fourth quarter behind a James layup and three-pointer, going on a 7-0 run to pull within six points early in the quarter.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The actress — who is currently treading the boards as Connie Francis in the hit Broadway musical about crooner Bobby Darin's life, Just in Time — took to Instagram Stories over the weekend to call out audience members for shouting at her during performances.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
-
The two-hour discussion grew increasingly tense, with her supporters shouting in protest as Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioners John Herbst and Steve Glassman critiqued Williams and her first year on the job.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
The stirring of the home supporters by Rowe, however, made the sound of silence more deafening in the final minute.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Records say the sound created a deafening roar across Copenhagen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gutty, gritty, growling, great, great win.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Suddenly all of those wolves appeared to pile on one wolf, and the growling and yipping carried for miles in the still, cold air.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Though the arrest took place over three years ago, the case faced new scrutiny in March when TMZ published a video of the altercation, showing Paul yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
McLaughlin could be heard yelling on his camera video.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hana liked it enough to take some home, which in the Test Kitchen is a ringing endorsement!—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
At the moment, Breslow has its ringing endorsement.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chaucer, who wrote in Middle English, was famously raunchy, and this fart has been rumbling since the fourteenth century.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
-
Apple works at this vertiginous juncture where Emily Dickinson goes rumbling into Etta James and, lately, Beyoncé; where Nico solves puzzles with Randy Newman, Kurt Weill, Nina Simone and the Beatles.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thundering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thundering. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
