thunderstrike: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Poetic
Quick answer
What does “thunderstrike” mean?
To strike with lightning and thunder, or to amaze or stun someone profoundly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To strike with lightning and thunder, or to amaze or stun someone profoundly.
A powerful, sudden, and awe-inspiring event or revelation that causes shock and astonishment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. More likely to appear in British historical/literary texts due to its archaic flavour.
Connotations
Equally poetic and dramatic in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary speech for both, slightly higher occurrence in written British English of older periods.
Grammar
How to Use “thunderstrike” in a Sentence
[Sb] thunderstrike [Sb] (archaic)[Sb] be thunderstruck by [sth]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thunderstrike” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The revelation did thunderstrike him, leaving him speechless for minutes.
- He was thunderstruck by the beauty of the Scottish Highlands.
American English
- The verdict thunderstruck the defendant's family.
- She stood thunderstruck in the middle of the crowded street.
adverb
British English
- He stared thunderstruckly at the letter (archaic/poetic).
American English
- She listened thunderstruck as the story unfolded (archaic/poetic).
adjective
British English
- A thunderstruck silence fell over the theatre.
- He wore a thunderstruck expression upon hearing the result.
American English
- The thunderstruck crowd slowly began to disperse.
- Her face was thunderstruck with disbelief.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. 'The CEO's sudden resignation thunderstruck the entire board.'
Academic
Rare, except in literary analysis of older texts.
Everyday
Very rare. 'We were all thunderstruck by the announcement.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thunderstrike”
- Using it as a common verb (e.g., 'The news thunderstruck me' is poetic, 'The news shocked me' is standard).
- Confusing it with 'lightning strike' for the literal meteorological event.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare in modern English. The past participle 'thunderstruck' is more frequently encountered, though still literary.
It is best avoided in contemporary formal writing (e.g., reports, academic papers) due to its archaic and poetic tone. Use 'astonish', 'astound', or 'stun' instead.
'Lightning strike' is the standard term for the meteorological event. 'Thunderstrike' is archaic/poetic and emphasises the combined sound and impact, and is overwhelmingly used figuratively.
Almost never in active voice (e.g., 'The news thunderstruck him'). Its primary survival is in the passive adjective form 'thunderstruck' (e.g., 'He was thunderstruck by the news').
To strike with lightning and thunder, or to amaze or stun someone profoundly.
Thunderstrike: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθʌn.də.straɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθʌn.dɚ.straɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be thunderstruck”
- “like a thunderstrike”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the band AC/DC's song 'Thunderstruck'—it describes being completely shocked and amazed.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SUDDEN REALIZATION IS A LIGHTNING STRIKE; SHOCK IS A NATURAL DISASTER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most common modern usage of 'thunderstrike'?