thunderous

IPA/ˈθʌndərəs/
KK[θˈʌndɚəs]IPA/ˈθʌndərəs/

thunderous — adjective

  • thunderouspositive
  • more thunderouscomparative
  • most thunderoussuperlative

1. Making a deep, very loud sound that resembles the rumble of thunder — used espec

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Making a deep, very loud sound that resembles the rumble of thunder — used especially for applause, cheers, or loud noises from crowds, machines, or nature.

Example

Saira's dance performance earned thunderous applause from the entire hall.

collocation: thunderous applause

Thunderous waves crashed against the rocks near the lighthouse, shaking the ground.

Common collocations
  • thunderous applause
  • thunderous cheers
  • thunderous roar
  • thunderous ovation
  • thunderous welcome
  • thunderous reception
  • thunderous sound
  • thunderous noise
Synonyms
  • deafening

    emphasizes that the sound is so loud it prevents hearing anything else

  • earsplitting

    suggests a painfully high volume, often for sharper sounds

  • resounding

    focuses on sound that echoes or reverberates through a space

  • booming

    describes a deep, powerful, prolonged sound, like a cannon or bass voice

Antonyms
  • faint

    barely audible

  • quiet

    producing little or no noise

Grammar Patterns

thunderous + noun

be + thunderous

Usage Note

Most common with collective-noun objects such as applause, cheers, and roars from audiences or crowds. Can also describe natural sounds (waves, waterfalls) and mechanical noise (engines, explosions). Typically attributive, though predicative use is possible ("the applause was thunderous").

Common Mistakes

The thunderous alarm clock woke me up.
The piercing alarm clock woke me up.
thunderous usually describes deep, rumbling loud sounds (like thunder), not high-pitched or beeping noises.
She gave him a thunderous look.
She gave him a furious look.
thunderous as 'extremely angry' is not common in modern English; use furious or livid for angry looks.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe very loud sounds, but they differ in the type and quality of the noise. Deafening stresses that the volume overwhelms hearing entirely ("a deafening explosion") and can be used for almost any extremely loud sound. Earsplitting focuses on high-pitched or piercing loudness that causes physical discomfort ("earsplitting feedback from the microphone"). Resounding describes a sound that echoes and fills a large space, often associated with acclaim ("resounding victory cheers"). Booming refers to a deep, low-frequency, powerful sound that carries far ("his booming voice"). Thunderous specifically evokes the deep, rumbling quality of thunder and is the most natural choice for audience reactions like applause and cheers — a crowd gives thunderous applause not earsplitting applause.

deafening ↗earsplitting ↗resoundingbooming ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • thunderous standing ovation

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanGermanicOld EnglishEnglish

Formed in English from 'thunder' (which traces back through Old English 'þunor' to the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)tene-, meaning 'to resound, thunder') plus the suffix '-ous' (from Latin '-osus', meaning 'full of, having the quality of'). First recorded in the late 16th century with the literal meaning 'producing thunder', then extended metaphorically to describe any sound as deep, loud, and rumbling like thunder.

First known use

1582

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a