Thesaurus results for THUNDERSTRIKE

thunderstrike

verb

ˈthən-dər-ˌstrīk

Definition of thunderstrike

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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thunderstrike

Verb

Carleton was surprised by how many older adults were thrilled to join a trial that would guide not only their care, but the treatment of others going forward.

— Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
After years of buying and selling horses, Casse knows the business will keep surprising him.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of surprise

Verb

Its closure was abrupt and shocked several fans who posted on social media.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
During the 1990s, mafia-style killings of public figures were a common occurrence in Bulgaria, but the latest outburst of violence has shocked the country, amid a heated campaign for presidential elections next month.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of shock

Verb

But after circling a few times, the shark spat out the bait, leaving fishermen on the pier stunned.

— Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
At a small celebration dinner in San Francisco after the deal closed, Basu Trivedi was stunned by their choice of lodging.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of stun

Verb

To build a stealthy ocean-monitoring platform for the Office of Naval Research, Professor Shepherd needed a propulsion system that would not startle marine life.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
As if triggered by this thought, the door buzzed itself open, startling the pigeons from wire to wing, a grand scattering.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of startle

Verb

The results astonished Christopher Galarza, a Pittsburgh chef and electric cooking advocate, who helped design the study.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Switzerland’s iconic glaciers lost an enormous amount of ice in 2026, a new report shows, signaling an ongoing rapid meltdown driven by climate change that has astonished even scientists studying it.

— Erin Douglas, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of astonish

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.

Browse Nearby Words

thunderstorms

thunderstrike

thunderstrikes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Thunderstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstrike. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of thunderstrike

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

etiquette

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes