1
as in to roar
to make a long loud deep noise or cry
as we got closer, the waterfall thundered louder and louder
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shout
to speak so as to be heard at a distance
a hotheaded man who was always thundering about the crooks and idiots running the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thunder
Sidelined for the second half of last season by a right hamstring tear that required surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone, Prescott thundered back by throwing for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing a league-high 404 passes.
—
Mike Jones, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Like the thundering Billy Sunday or the vaudevillian Sister Aimee or the Bakkers and Swaggarts, who made television their native medium, or Billy Graham, who, in his prime, acted as a kind of Evangelical pope, advising presidents and heads of state.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
This Kirk thunders against the false gods of modernity and cites the Bible to support his hard-right critique of liberalism.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
Standing in Arizona’s largest dry lakebed, Wilcox Playa, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy steadied himself as freight trains thundered by, threatening to blur the shot that took months to prepare.
—Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thunder
Mike Jones, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Like the thundering Billy Sunday or the vaudevillian Sister Aimee or the Bakkers and Swaggarts, who made television their native medium, or Billy Graham, who, in his prime, acted as a kind of Evangelical pope, advising presidents and heads of state.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
This Kirk thunders against the false gods of modernity and cites the Bible to support his hard-right critique of liberalism.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
Standing in Arizona’s largest dry lakebed, Wilcox Playa, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy steadied himself as freight trains thundered by, threatening to blur the shot that took months to prepare.
—Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thunder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thunder
Verb
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The crowds that roar her to victory can also bring their own pressures.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Dutch fans roared every time one of their countrywomen zoomed by.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Footage showed dozens of people being arrested as agitators shouted insults at state patrol officers, tore down yellow police tape and hurled lewd objects at law enforcement.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
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Following Wednesday’s vote, community members shouted at board members over the closure, prompting trustees to call for a 5-minute recess.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Come on, the gunman growled, turning and walking and beckoning with the pistol for Adi to follow.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Upon entering the foyer, I was greeted by a growling animatronic Chewbacca, playfully adorned with a Christmas hat for the holiday season.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Dash camera video from Newton’s police cruiser doesn’t capture the shooting, but Newton can be heard yelling commands for Sanders to stop and show his hands.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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Here is Kyle yelling so hard at Dorit that her veins are straining against her Botox.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Family members of the shooting victims cried as the sentence was handed down.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Néfissa cries loudly and with anguish about her son, but refuses to acknowledge his truth.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thunder. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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