as in stunned
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise
the teen was thunderstruck when his parents told him he had been adopted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in surprised
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
everyone was thunderstruck when she quit her job without warning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thunderstruck
Marin Independent Journal, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
The baseball-loving family members were thunderstruck at spotting the T206 Honus Wagner in the frame.
—Marin Independent Journal, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thunderstruck
Adjective
-
The iguanas featured in the makeshift blanket are cold-stunned lizards.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Whenever this happens, iguanas, which are accustomed to hot weather, become cold-stunned.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Here's how Trump surprised the world.—
,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The commitment to the character on the part of the puppeteers also surprised the celebrity guests.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Monfils was amazed by his wife’s strength after expanding their family.—
Erica Marrison,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Wilkinson was amazed by the diversity of Bullock’s collectors when putting the show together.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cubans were shocked by the US operation in January that captured their key ally, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and resulted in the deaths of more than 30 Cuban security forces protecting him.—
Bianna Golodryga,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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DeepSeek's release at the time shocked global investors, who thought China could not innovate on AI without high-end Nvidia chips.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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One that draws more approving thumbs-ups, creates more astonished grins, or pulls more phones from pockets for impromptu photographs and video—especially in stunning Verde Ermes metallic paint.—
Michael Harley,
Forbes.com,
19 Jan. 2026
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Live, the 11-year-old actor shared his astonished reaction to getting the note.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The exchange startled Loftus, who this month shared the correspondence with the Orlando Sentinel.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
-
YouTube’s growth as a competitor to traditional television has startled the industry in recent years.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And she is just completely dumbstruck by that.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The parents at this kind of show, of course, are less dumbstruck than the kids: The card is not floating but instead swinging on some string.—
Joseph Vukov,
Chicago Tribune,
29 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Thunderstruck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunderstruck. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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