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
And one of our favorite, can't-miss-her Fashion Week celebs is Julia Fox, who never fails to bring an element of surprise to the sidewalks of NYC.
—
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Feb. 2026
The end result is contemporary and chic and adds an element of surprise to any cooking space.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 8 Feb. 2026
The buildup has robbed the Pentagon of the element of surprise, but that may not make a huge difference.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
Even after the element of surprise wore off in the second half, South Carolina still blitzed by 15 in the third quarter.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for element of surprise
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Feb. 2026
The end result is contemporary and chic and adds an element of surprise to any cooking space.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 8 Feb. 2026
The buildup has robbed the Pentagon of the element of surprise, but that may not make a huge difference.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
Even after the element of surprise wore off in the second half, South Carolina still blitzed by 15 in the third quarter.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for element of surprise
Cite this Entry
“Element of surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/element%20of%20surprise. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
