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
But even the element of surprise can’t help Colton here.
—
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
In an era of set-piece specialist coaches, having no element of surprise only feeds further into the opponents’ hands.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Take a cue from Laura Harrier and add an element of surprise by flipping the ends out ever so slightly.
—Elise Tabin, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026
But the element of surprise is no longer on Calabasas’ side.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for element of surprise
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Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
In an era of set-piece specialist coaches, having no element of surprise only feeds further into the opponents’ hands.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Take a cue from Laura Harrier and add an element of surprise by flipping the ends out ever so slightly.
—Elise Tabin, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026
But the element of surprise is no longer on Calabasas’ side.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 14 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 1 Feb. 2026.
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