the unexpected
noun
: things that happen unexpectedly
Drivers must always be prepared to deal with the unexpected.
Examples of the unexpected in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many responded not to the dollar amount, but to the unexpected humanity behind the moment.
—
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Many unfortunate events were blamed on poison—the unexpected death of an enslaver or a slave, a spate of local deaths due to a virus or other disease, or problems on the plantation such as ill livestock or bad harvests.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
And then there are the unexpected expenses.
—Matt O'Brien, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Consider this your cheat sheet–full of both tried-and-true and the unexpected.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the unexpected
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Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Many unfortunate events were blamed on poison—the unexpected death of an enslaver or a slave, a spate of local deaths due to a virus or other disease, or problems on the plantation such as ill livestock or bad harvests.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
And then there are the unexpected expenses.
—Matt O'Brien, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Consider this your cheat sheet–full of both tried-and-true and the unexpected.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the unexpected
Cite this Entry
“The unexpected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20unexpected. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
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