more thunderous than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more thunderous than" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when comparing the intensity or loudness of sounds or events. An example could be: "The applause was more thunderous than the roar of the crowd." Alternative expressions include "louder than" and "more deafening than."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This ground reverberates on most occasions - but it has surely never been more thunderous than this.

BBC

As Daw Aung San Suu Kyi again thanked the Nobel Committee and the people of the world for their support, the standing ovation in Oslo's City Hall was even longer and more thunderous than the one she received when introduced.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When the curtain went up, the crowd let out an enormous burst of applause, more thunderous and heartfelt than on opening night.

The New York Times

In "Double Fold," glimpses of his old nerd-in-overdrive persona ("I began moaning and typing things like 'Oh, my friends, it's worse than you think' ") make his indignation the more thunderous by contrast.

The New York Times - Books

More thunderous cheering ensues.

The New Yorker

Dancing, drumming feet, stomping hips, moving – more thunderous then Apollo's intimidation, shaking free his curse.

The Guardian

The ensemble spared no energy here; the finale could hardly have been more thunderous.

The New York Times - Arts

This prompted still more thunderous lobbying from banks, shipping magnates and City bigwigs, and the hapless chancellor bowed to it.

The Economist

The night could hardly have had a more thunderous conclusion.

BBC

But perhaps because its name is less thunderous than that of Krakatau, at the other end of Java, which blew up later, most of the world's people have never heard of the earlier bang.A century and a half later, another explosion, this one political, produced even more carnage but was just as quickly forgotten by the rest of the world.

The Economist

In your story covering "The Ride," where "hundreds, if not more than a 1,000," "thunderous" motorcycles roar down PCH ("'Every year we cry,'" Sept. 12), you make it sound like these riders are somehow doing something noble and patriotic by disrupting the peace in our town.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the noun being compared (e.g., applause, roar, crash) justifies the use of a heavy, sensory word like 'thunderous' to avoid hyperbole in mundane contexts.

Common error

A common mistake in comparative structures is using 'then' instead of 'than'. In "more thunderous than", 'than' is a conjunction used to introduce the second part of a comparison. Using 'then' (which refers to time or sequence) is a frequent spelling error that significantly detracts from professional writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more thunderous than" acts as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to establish a relationship of superiority between two auditory experiences or events. According to Ludwig, it typically modifies nouns representing sound, such as 'applause', 'cheering', or 'roars', positioning the subject as exceeding a specific baseline of intensity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Arts & Literature

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Sports Reporting

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "more thunderous than" is an effective tool for writers looking to elevate their descriptive language beyond simple volume comparisons. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is almost exclusively used in high-quality journalistic and literary contexts to describe audience reactions, natural phenomena, or intense physical sounds. While it is considered 'rare' in terms of raw frequency, its presence in top-tier publications like The New York Times and The Guardian confirms its status as a valid and powerful choice for formal writing. To use it correctly, ensure you maintain the comparative conjunction 'than' rather than 'then' and apply it to contexts where the sound described carries significant weight or emotional resonance. Alternatives like "more deafening than" can be used if the intent is to describe a sound that is physically painful or overwhelming.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

louder than

Provides a more direct and common comparison of pure volume.

more deafening than

Suggests a level of noise so intense it is overwhelming or silencing.

more booming than

Emphasizes the deep, resonant quality of the sound.

more resonant than

Focuses on the depth and endurance of the sound rather than just volume.

greater than the roar of

Uses a more evocative, metaphorical noun to describe the intensity.

more intense than

Shifts the focus from sound alone to the general power or feeling of the event.

more sonorous than

A more formal and technical term focusing on the richness of the sound.

noisier than

A simpler, more informal alternative focusing on general disturbance.

higher in volume than

A more clinical or literal description of sound levels.

more powerful than

Focuses on the impact and force behind the sound or reaction.

FAQs

How to use "more thunderous than" in a sentence?

You can use it to compare the volume of two sounds, for example: "The applause in the hall was even "more thunderous than" the storm outside."

What can I say instead of "more thunderous than"?

Depending on your context, you might use "louder than", "more deafening than", or "more resonant than".

Is "more thunderous than" considered formal?

Yes, it is a sophisticated comparative phrase. While it is perfectly acceptable in neutral news reporting, it is frequently found in literary reviews and formal journalism to add descriptive weight.

Should I use "more thunderous than" or "thunderous-er"?

You must use "more thunderous than". Because 'thunderous' is a multi-syllable adjective, it requires the use of 'more' to form its comparative degree; 'thunderous-er' is grammatically incorrect.