unawares

unawares

adverb

Definition of UNAWARES

without warning <the thunderstorm caught us unawares, and we scrambled to get off the ridge as lightning started to flash>

Synonyms aback, suddenly, unanticipatedly, unaware, unexpectedly

Related Words abruptly, short; amazingly, astoundingly, surprisingly

Phrases all of a sudden, off base

Near Antonyms laggardly, leisurely, pokily, slowly, sluggishly, tardily; obviously