ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Thunderbolt

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈθʌndə(ɹ)ˌboʊlt/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Thunderbolt is a noun meaning A flash of lightning accompanied by a crash of thunder.

Meaning

A flash of lightning accompanied by a crash of thunder.

More Meanings

  1. (figuratively) An event that is terrible, horrific or unexpected.
  2. Vehement threatening or censure; especially, ecclesiastical denunciation; fulmination.
  3. (soccer) A very powerful shot.
  4. (paleontology) A belemnite, or thunderstone.
  5. (heraldry) A charge in the form of two joined bundles with four rays of lightning emerging from them, resembling the thunderbolt of Jupiter.
  6. A daring or irresistible hero.
  7. (transitive, rare) To strike with a thunderbolt.

Example Sentences

a thunder-bolt of warre Striking all Nations
the Scipios' worth, those thunderbolts of war
News of the actress’s death came as a thunderbolt to her fans.
A greater wreck, a deeper fall, / A shock to one—a thunderbolt to all.

Word Forms

Synonyms for thunderbolt

Depending on context, synonyms include bolt, bombshell, thunderclap.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include thunderclap, bombshell, bolt, thunder, lightning, flash.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.