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 child prodigy who was a double outcast Political observers shouldn’t have been surprised.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026 -
Customers have been pleasantly surprised by this set, too, noting that the fabric feels luxurious while being extremely comfortable.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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What amazed me the most was the remains of what appeared to be a tall conifer — possibly a cypress or cedar — on Edgar Street in Pacific Palisades, where the Palisades fire ravaged an entire street.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Fennell likes to shock, and her newest film has successfully provoked many strong reactions.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
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Nancy Guthrie’s abduction from her home in the upscale Catalina Foothills north of Tucson, Arizona, shocked the nation.—
Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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All are stunned by secrets that eventually emerge.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
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Michelle Obama stunned in a strapless black leather dress while dancing with husband Barack Obama in a Valentine's Day post shared by the former president.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.—
Sara Krolewski,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
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After several chest compressions, Briana startled awake and cried.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The people around are astonished; in Uppsala they are used to something a little more modest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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Even some fellow Olympians are astonished.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstrike. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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