- Lightning is the natural electric discharge during a storm.
- Thunderbolt is lightning as a dramatic, often mythical or symbolic, weapon.
- Lightning is a scientific term used in everyday weather contexts.
- Thunderbolt appears mostly in literature, mythology, and figurative language.
- Thunderbolt is less common and more poetic or powerful in tone.
Meanings
- Lightning: A natural electrical discharge that occurs in the atmosphere, visible as a bright flash.
- Thunderbolt: A bolt of lightning, often depicted as a weapon (e.g., Zeus's thunderbolt) or used metaphorically to signify sudden, powerful impact.
Usage
- Lightning is used in weather reports, scientific descriptions, and everyday speech to describe the natural phenomenon.
- Thunderbolt is used in literary, mythological, or figurative contexts to evoke drama, power, or suddenness.
Examples
| Term | Example Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning | The lightning lit up the sky during the storm. | Describes a natural weather event. |
| Thunderbolt | Zeus hurled a thunderbolt to defeat his enemy. | Uses "thunderbolt" as a mythical weapon. |
| Lightning | Stay indoors to avoid being struck by lightning. | General safety advice about the phenomenon. |
| Thunderbolt | The news struck me like a thunderbolt—I was completely shocked. | Uses "thunderbolt" metaphorically for sudden impact. |
Translate the sentence: Zeus hurled a thunderbolt to defeat his enemy.
Zeus hurled a thunderbolt to defeat his enemy.
'Thunderbolt' here refers to the mythical weapon wielded by Zeus.
Summary
- Use lightning when talking about the electrical phenomenon in a factual or descriptive way.
- Use thunderbolt when you want to add a sense of drama, power, or mythology, or when speaking metaphorically.
Which word adds a sense of drama, power, or mythology?
thunderbolt
Use 'thunderbolt' to evoke a more dramatic, symbolic, or mythical tone.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
