bombshell
Americannoun
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bombshells
plural
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a bomb.
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something or someone having a sudden and sensational effect.
The news of his resignation was a bombshell.
noun
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(esp formerly) a bomb or artillery shell
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a shocking or unwelcome surprise
the news of his death was a bombshell
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informal an attractive girl or woman (esp in the phrase blonde bombshell )
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bombshell
1700–10; 1925–30 bombshell for def. 2; bomb + shell
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In bombshell interviews and tell-all documentaries, the American former actor has never hidden how difficult she found things following her 2018 fairytale wedding to Harry.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
On stage, she gracefully offset the blond bombshell image she both cultivated and poked fun at.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Shortly after, they memorably shed light on their decision in a bombshell CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey, unleashing a disturbing look into their life as members of the royal family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Viewers were surprised early in the series when Kavan, who was sent in as a bombshell, was revealed to be the brother of day-one contestant Aidan Murphy.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Before a cheerful crowd that included Lawrence and Gordon Dean, the “well-lubricated” Teller dropped a bombshell, declaring that he would have nothing to do with the new lab.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
“Love Island USA” Season 8 premieres Tuesday, sans Montgomery, and will feature a number of SoCal bombshells among its cast in Fuji.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
Producers were keen to capitalise on that for the latest All Stars, which saw six American bombshells enter in their own Casa Amor villa halfway through.
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
The hearing produced no major bombshells or confirmation of alien life.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026
Those two bombshells came on top of what was already shaping up to be a frustrating offseason for Mets fans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
But the paper presented these allegations as scandalous bombshells, call-ing them “startling disclosures.”
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
