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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Given this, what still surprises me is how rarely art schools teach the business realities of being an artist – and how often artists cling to the belief that their art alone will make their careers.—
Magnus Resch,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026 -
For decades, Mars has surprised scientists with evidence of ancient rivers, shifting sands and the chemical fingerprints of past water.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That is my bread and butter, to amaze people that like getting to the bottom of things.—
Eric Fayeulle,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
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The wildly colorful installations, in both the garden and the indoor galleries, are sure to amaze.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 1999, the Institute of Medicine’s landmark report To Err Is Human shocked the nation by estimating that 44,000 to 98,000 Americans were dying each year from preventable medical errors.—
Joe Kiani,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
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The accomplishment shocked military planners everywhere.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By the time Josh Doan scored to put the Sabres up 2-0, Bruins fans were stunned into silence while Sabres fans were celebrating all around them.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Lewis stunned Ziggy with a punch to the eye, jumped into the enclosure’s moat and escaped.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Peafowl can also disturb landscaping and startle people with their piercing screams.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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The gunfire startled sleeping guests at the Citizen Hotel, which included a wedding party and fans of the rapper Tyler the Creator, who performed at a concert hours earlier.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Further stories illuminate emotional realities burrowed deep within enormously likeable characters, often moving the reader (or this reader anyway) to astonished tears.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
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In her interview with Makeup Artist Magazine, Johnson seemed astonished by her brush with so much greatness.—
Chris Koseluk,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstrike. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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