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 Uno Attack uses the element of surprise to kick the fun up a notch or two. Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024 Biden said that the early-morning hours are the best time for U.S. forces to operate and maintain the element of surprise and added that next Thursday would let enough time pass to avoid making the retaliation seem precipitous, while steering clear of Friday for reasons of cultural sensitivity. Rich Lowry, National Review, 4 Feb. 2024 These accounts run by anybody (even an actual cast member like Garcia) eliminate the element of surprise within the shows themselves. TIME, 24 Jan. 2024 Her involvement was kept a secret, adding an element of surprise for the audience. Gayle King, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2024 No other antibiotic approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration takes this approach, and the element of surprise is an important advantage against even microscopic foes. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2024 Still, while the element of surprise may be dashed, one thing is still left uncertain: Swift’s birthday outfit. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Dec. 2023 Many in the unit felt the element of surprise had been lost. Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2023 This category is for he who will appreciate a wild card gift and savor the element of surprise. Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2023

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

Cite this Entry

“Element of surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/element%20of%20surprise. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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