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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The battle was turbo-charged when Powell surprised markets with a 50 basis point inflation hike in September last year, seen by some as a gift to Trump’s Democratic Party election rival Kamala Harris.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025 -
In a move that surprised some, the Republican governor’s proclamation also called on lawmakers to weaken the state’s initiative petition process, a more than a century-old mechanism for direct democracy that allows citizens to put measures on the ballot.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 90-yard dash along the right sideline one play after Ruvalcaba’s interception amazed his teammates.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Having an almost 80-year-old actor at the heart of the film and in almost every scene could be a huge undertaking, but Touzani says Maura’s vitality amazed her.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Apparently, this will shock no one, everybody lately wants to scream.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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In 2019, after massive layoffs and lost sales, the company shocked Wall Street by writing down the value of marquee brands Oscar Mayer and Kraft by $15 billion.—
Alina Selyukh,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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When news of the closing of Valerie Chang’s Peruvian restaurant Maty’s was announced in Midtown, Miami diners were stunned.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The cars are startled by a ghost car named Brenda (a perfectly imperfect name), who introduces them to other friendly ghost vehicles, most of whom have experienced deadly crashes and now honk funny.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
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This technique often is used with fencing to create a visual barrier and to startle geese when the tape shimmers in the breeze.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Golden State Valkyries player Temi Fagbenle rocks the runway in Seyah, a brand founded by teammate Tiffany Hayes.—
Brendan Le,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott (Kunis) to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The success of the event astonished everybody.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Both Padres baseball leaders were astonished by what the 2010 team had achieved through more than three-quarters of the season.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstrike. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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