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foudroyant

American  
[foo-droi-uhnt, foo-drwa-yahn] / fuˈdrɔɪ ənt, fu drwaˈyɑ̃ /

adjective

  1. striking as with lightning; sudden and overwhelming in effect; stunning; dazzling.

  2. Pathology. (of disease) beginning in a sudden and severe form.

foudroyant British  
/ fuːˈdrɔɪənt /

adjective

  1. (of a disease) occurring suddenly and with great severity

  2. rare stunning, dazzling, or overwhelming

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of foudroyant

1830–40; < French, present participle of foudroyer to strike with lightning, derivative of foudre lightning < Latin fulgur

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.

Yet style and manner are not the only reasons for the mayor's foudroyant success.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ou a garrison, troupe flasque, Se rendit si piteusement Apres la premiere bourasque Du canon francais foudroyant.

From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 11 by Carlyle, Thomas

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.