surprise 1 of 2

variants also surprize
1
as in shock
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected the anniversary party was such a complete surprise that the couple was speechless for a moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in amazement
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual stared in utter surprise at the deer in his cabin

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in ambush
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait waited under cover of darkness and took the enemy encampment by surprise at dawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

surprise

2 of 2

verb

variants also surprize

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb surprise contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of surprise are amaze, astonish, astound, and flabbergast. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedness," surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

surprised to find them at home

Where would amaze be a reasonable alternative to surprise?

The meanings of amaze and surprise largely overlap; however, amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment.

amazed by the immense size of the place

When is it sensible to use astonish instead of surprise?

While the synonyms astonish and surprise are close in meaning, astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible.

a discovery that astonished the world

When is astound a more appropriate choice than surprise?

The words astound and surprise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, astound stresses the shock of astonishment.

too astounded to respond

When might flabbergast be a better fit than surprise?

In some situations, the words flabbergast and surprise are roughly equivalent. However, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay.

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

Examples of surprise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
An engaged co-pilot couldn't stop smiling after a sweet surprise from his crew and passengers. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024 This is really no surprise: CBS is chock-full of law-enforcement procedurals. Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
Every state has its own set of strange laws still technically on the books that may surprise you, including New York. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 22 Oct. 2024 And some beneficiaries may be surprised by a downside: premium increases for some plans. Susan Jaffe, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for surprise 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'surprise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near surprise

Cite this Entry

“Surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprise. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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