element of surprise
noun phrase
: the unexpected or surprising character of something
The attackers were relying on the element of surprise.
Examples of element of surprise in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the intelligence community, AI helped analysts predict Russia’s invasion of Ukraine months in advance, enabling the United States to warn the world and deny Russian President Vladimir Putin the element of surprise.
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Michèle A. Flournoy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Both b-boys and b-girls could not choose their performance music; instead, two DJs spun records on a turntable behind the judges, cementing an element of surprise and improvisation in the sport.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Aug. 2024
Her tragedies rely on an element of surprise for their immediacy: The reader is shocked by sudden horror in the same way the characters are.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 8 Aug. 2024
On 9/11, the group benefited from the element of surprise and from the relative anonymity of its operatives.
—Thomas Hegghammer, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
See all Example Sentences for element of surprise 
Michèle A. Flournoy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Both b-boys and b-girls could not choose their performance music; instead, two DJs spun records on a turntable behind the judges, cementing an element of surprise and improvisation in the sport.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Aug. 2024
Her tragedies rely on an element of surprise for their immediacy: The reader is shocked by sudden horror in the same way the characters are.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 8 Aug. 2024
On 9/11, the group benefited from the element of surprise and from the relative anonymity of its operatives.
—Thomas Hegghammer, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
See all Example Sentences for element of surprise
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'element of surprise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near element of surprise
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“Element of surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/element%20of%20surprise. Accessed 10 Sep. 2024.
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