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
Without the element of surprise, a US ground operation, even with vastly superior firepower, could quickly turn into a bloodbath.
—
Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
But for Miller, the element of surprise has run out.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
To preserve stealth and the element of surprise, the operators might create a staging ground several miles from their objective, which might include building a makeshift landing strip.
—Sheena Samu, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
The element of surprise on the intentional miss wasn’t a factor, according to Adelman, who pointed out that Smart’s lack of rebound attempt took another Nugget out of the play.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for element of surprise
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Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
But for Miller, the element of surprise has run out.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
To preserve stealth and the element of surprise, the operators might create a staging ground several miles from their objective, which might include building a makeshift landing strip.
—Sheena Samu, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
The element of surprise on the intentional miss wasn’t a factor, according to Adelman, who pointed out that Smart’s lack of rebound attempt took another Nugget out of the play.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
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