thunderbolt

[ thuhn-der-bohlt ]

noun

1. a flash of lightning with the accompanying thunder.
2. an imaginary bolt or dart conceived as the material destructive agent cast to earth in a flash of lightning:

   the thunderbolts of Jove.

3. something very destructive, terrible, severe, sudden, or startling.
4. a person who acts with fury or with sudden and irresistible force.

thunderbolt

/ ˈθʌndəˌbəʊlt /

noun

1. a flash of lightning accompanying thunder
2. the imagined agency of destruction produced by a flash of lightning
3. (in mythology) the destructive weapon wielded by several gods, esp the Greek god Zeus See also Thor
4. something very startling

Word History and Origins

Origin of thunderbolt¹

First recorded in 1400–50, thunderbolt is from late Middle English thondre bolte. See thunder, bolt ¹

Example Sentences

Trump also survived a gunshot that could have taken his life, and a little more than a week later absorbed another thunderbolt — President Biden’s departure from the race.

From Los Angeles Times

It sent a thunderbolt of fear down Asian and minority communities.

From BBC

James Baldwin wrote thunderbolts of truth about American racism that changed the way people have understood and debated the issue since.

From Los Angeles Times

For me, it was a thunderbolt of thrill followed by pure abject terror that we might disappoint or “not have something good for her.”

From Los Angeles Times

Canada’s star was David Winckworth, who made 12 with the bat before sending down a few round-arm thunderbolts of his own, taking four wickets as the Americans were dismissed for 64.

From BBC

Related Words

• amazement
• astonishment
• awe
• bewilderment
• consternation
• curiosity
• disappointment
• jolt
• miracle
• revelation
• shock
• wonder