What does "thunderstruck" mean?

Astonished, amazed or so suddenly surprised as to be unable to speak.

What is a synonym for "thunderstruck"?

Common synonyms include: dumbfounded, agape, aghast, aghast, agog, all agog.

How do you pronounce "thunderstruck"?

Pronounced //ˈθʌn.də.stɹʌk//.

Thunderstruck

Q: How do you use "thunderstruck" in a sentence?

I was thunderstruck by my friend's words.

/ˈθʌn.də.stɹʌk/ adj

adj ·Moderate ·College level

Usage: "Thunderstruck" is primarily used as a adjective. Its central meaning — as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise — makes it most effective in contexts where precision matters over a more general alternative.

Origin: From thunder + struck. Compare synonymous and cognate Latin attonitus. Also compare typologically Ancient Greek ἐμβρόντητος (embróntētos) (< βροντή (brontḗ)) (whence Greek εμβρόντητος (emvróntitos)); Czech ohromený (< ohromit), Bulgarian като ударен от гръм (kato udaren ot grǎm), Russian как гро́мом поражённый (kak grómom poražónnyj) (akin to гром (grom)). See also German wie vom Donner gerührt.

Watch out: Writers sometimes confuse "thunderstruck" with "dumbfounded" or "dumfounded" — the words overlap in meaning but differ in nuance or register. Use "thunderstruck" when you specifically mean its core sense rather than defaulting to it as a generic substitute.

Definitions

Adjective

1
Astonished, amazed or so suddenly surprised as to be unable to speak.
"The overthrown he rais’d, and as a Heard Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd Drove them before him Thunder-struck,"

Adjective

1
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

dumbfounded agape aghast aghast agog all agog

Antonyms

All antonyms

calm indifferent mild softened

Example

More examples

"I was thunderstruck by my friend's words."

Etymology

From thunder + struck. Compare synonymous and cognate Latin attonitus. Also compare typologically Ancient Greek ἐμβρόντητος (embróntētos) (< βροντή (brontḗ)) (whence Greek εμβρόντητος (emvróntitos)); Czech ohromený (< ohromit), Bulgarian като ударен от гръм (kato udaren ot grǎm), Russian как гро́мом поражённый (kak grómom poražónnyj) (akin to гром (grom)). See also German wie vom Donner gerührt.

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