as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
everyone was thunderstruck when she quit her job without warning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thunderstrike
Verb
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Bad Bunny’s booking for Super Bowl LX, scheduled for February, didn’t surprise anyone familiar with his music.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025 -
For last year's celebration, Nathan Lane surprised Behar on the show with a pizza deliveryman stripper in honor of the occasion.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Through it all, your professionalism, determination, dedication, and spirit of collaboration have inspired me and amazed me time and time again.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
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Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Shares of Oracle surged 36% in yesterday’s session after the company’s cloud growth estimates amazed Wall Street.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Alfred Hitchcock's classic, which revolutionized and shocked Hollywood in equal measure, was famously adapted from a novel that was based on the case of Ed Gein by American writer Robert Bloch.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
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In August, David was in a video that shocked the world and drew commentary from the White House.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Maren Morris stuns in brown cut-out dress alongside Spotify's Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins, who hosted a pre-festival brunch at Eberly in Austin, TX during Austin City Limits.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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When her cat started crying, one TikToker did what most pet parents would and rushed him to the vet—only to be stunned by the professional's diagnosis.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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First baseman Michael Toglia covered his head, too, and was startled when the ball landed a few feet from him.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
28 Sep. 2025
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Sleep may be disturbed by a pet's movements, and dogs may bite if startled.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As seen in the second photo, Kidman — who also rocked her new bangs — layered a statement burgundy blazer jacket over her shoulders to tie in the bag.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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The country was rocked by the 2019 murder of Walter Lübcke, a local government official who supported the pro-refugee policies of then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.—
Stephanie Halasz,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The discovery astonished scientists, but so did the person who made it.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
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Hollywood leaders were astonished; free speech groups were appalled; and the episode triggered a multi-day news cycle about free speech and corporate capitulation to political pressure.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstrike. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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