thunderbolt

noun

thun·​der·​bolt ˈthən-dər-ˌbōlt 

1

a

: a single discharge of lightning with the accompanying thunder

b

: an imaginary elongated mass cast as a missile to earth in the lightning flash

2

a

: a person or thing that resembles lightning in suddenness, effectiveness, or destructive power

b

: a vehement threat or censure

Examples of thunderbolt in a Sentence

He was struck dead by a thunderbolt.

Recent Examples on the Web

And many of them stuck with it, giving some new thunderbolt—like, say, a Caitlin Clark—a solid base to expand. —Sean Gregory, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025

There seemed to be no way that Lamar could both win over the masses yearning for spectacle and his diehards hoping for a thunderbolt of Pulitzer-level genius. —Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025

This idea of keeping memories from flowing outward to nowhere strikes him like a thunderbolt and sets him on a quest to slow down his grandparents’ mental decline — and perhaps address his own brain clutter. —Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2025

Well, lightning may not strike twice, but thunderbolts do. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for thunderbolt

• millivolt
• somersault
• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• malt
• sault
• vault
• walt
• asphalt
• assault

Kids Definition

thunderbolt

noun

thun·​der·​bolt ˈthən-dər-ˌbōlt 

: a flash of lightning and the thunder that follows it