as in surprise
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected
discovering that I had a long-lost sister was an absolute bombshell
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Recent Examples of bombshell
Duffy slicked them flat at Saint Laurent, and Turner kept them lacquered at Hermès before sending bouncy bombshell iterations out at Alexander McQueen.
—
Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026
But then the newspaper dropped another bombshell this month.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
That’s not to say there isn’t a company-wide stupor after last week’s bombshells.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
The 2010 discovery that early humans and Neanderthals once encountered one another and had babies was a scientific bombshell that electrified the field of human origins.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bombshell
Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026
But then the newspaper dropped another bombshell this month.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
That’s not to say there isn’t a company-wide stupor after last week’s bombshells.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
The 2010 discovery that early humans and Neanderthals once encountered one another and had babies was a scientific bombshell that electrified the field of human origins.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bombshell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombshell
Noun
-
Stock the fridge, because surprise company might drop by.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
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But many Oscar pundits abandoned ship, after Jordan pulled out a surprise win from the Actor Awards on March 1.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Now came the surprise of my effortful steps, the shock of how unyielding the dress’s shell was, as if I were being held in place by a firm hand.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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So the lack of parachutes in the KC-135, under this light, should not come as much of a shock.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Penning didn’t add much of a jolt to the Chargers’ attempts to secure more protection for Herbert in the second half of the season, often struggling to keep opposing pass rushers in front of him.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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The Atlantic Coast Conference entered the season hoping to create a jolt for men’s basketball, a flagship sport facing a dwindling count of March Madness bids in recent years.—
Mercury News,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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All defendants maintained their innocence and appealed after a two-year trial that opened a Pandora's box of unwanted revelations about papal ransom payments to Islamic militants, Vatican vendettas, espionage and other dirty laundry of the Holy See.—
NICOLE WINFIELD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
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None of the revelations feels especially explosive.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bombshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombshell. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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