thunderous

/ˈθʌn.dər.əs/
extremely loud or powerful

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause after the performance.

The applause was extremely loud and powerful, showing strong approval.


literary

Making a very loud or deep sound, like thunder.

The thunderous roar of the waterfall could be heard for miles.

The sound of the waterfall was so loud it could be heard from a great distance.

The speaker's thunderous voice filled the auditorium.

The speaker's voice was extremely loud and powerful, reaching every corner of the room.

Often used metaphorically to describe intense emotions or reactions, such as applause, cheering, or silence.

Collocations

thunderous applausevery loud and enthusiastic clappingthunderous silencean extremely quiet atmosphere that feels heavy with emotionthunderous voicea very loud and powerful voice

Related Phrases

thunder and lightningphrase
a natural weather phenomenon involving loud noise and electrical discharge
steal one's thunderidiom
to take attention away from someone else's achievement

Pro Tip

Avoid overusing 'thunderous'

While 'thunderous' is vivid, it can sound dramatic or hyperbolic if used too frequently. Reserve it for moments when the sound or reaction is truly overwhelming.

Gold Rule

Use 'thunderous' for impactful sounds or reactions

Reserve this word for situations where the sound or reaction is genuinely loud, powerful, or emotionally intense. It works well in both literal and figurative contexts.

Word Origin

From Old English 'thunor' (thunder) + '-ous' (suffix meaning 'full of' or 'having the quality of'). The suffix '-ous' comes from Latin '-osus', used to form adjectives from nouns.

Usage Notes

Commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts. Literally describes sounds resembling thunder, while figuratively it can describe overwhelming emotions or reactions.

Word Breakdown

thunder
a loud rumbling or crashing noise heard after a lightning flash
root
+
-ous
a suffix meaning 'full of' or 'having the quality of'
suffix
English Dictionary