- thunderbolt⇄noun 1. a flash of lightning and the thunder that follows it.
2. (Figurative.) something sudden, startling, and terrible.
Ex. The news of his death came as a thunderbolt.
3. (Figurative.) a person with great energy and drive.
4 - thunderbolt⇄thunderbolt, noun, verb.
- thunderbolt⇄v.t. to strike with a thunderbolt.
Ex. (Figurative.) It will not be long before he is thunderbolted to the quick by the physical similarities between East Anglia and China (Punch).
(SYN) startle, terrify.