as in surprising
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
the last-minute blindsiding allegations that almost derailed the candidate's campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blindsiding
Adjective
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Joy has surprising traction today.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026 -
Miami’s past holds surprising stories of ambition and reinvention, from a Bulgarian artist wrapping islands in pink fabric to a failed bid to become the film capital of the world.—
Jeff Kleinman,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2026
Verb
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There was also some disconcerting history to consider.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a lot of disconcerting news about AI in journalism lately.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
More startling, though, was his passing.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
The startling scale of detentions made Israel the third-worst jailer of journalists for 2025, behind only China and Myanmar, according to CPJ.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Verb
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That connection, which will be jarring for some, was on display during the parade.—
Zahra Ullah,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
-
In a post-COVID-19 world, headlines about a spreading respiratory virus can be jarring, to say the least.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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But early polls have showed Schlossberg parlaying his Kennedy aura, name recognition and attention-grabbing social media chops into a shocking lead, with Bores also in the mix.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
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Six permanent outdoor works are dotted around the property, including a large rocket by Polish artist Goshka Macuga and a shocking pink tree, commissioned specifically for the island, by Pamela Rosenkranz.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Verb
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But even more than engaging the big ideas that Emma’s revelation triggers — pun somewhat intended — Lee and Borli wanted to craft an experience that would mimic its main characters’ bewildering interiority.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2026
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There aren’t many ways to earn a club’s first win better than bewildering the league’s defending champions at their place.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The entire complement of ingredients and cooking apparatuses to prepare the full menu occupies a mere 6 square feet—absolutely amazing.—
George Motz,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
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The princess has done an amazing job at activating people's minds about the value and importance of this.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Verb
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This description recalls what leadership expert Jason Wild previously told Fortune about how AI tools are probabilistic, befuddling managers everywhere.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
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Shares are erasing some of those two-day losses on Monday, but our overarching point about the befuddling post-earnings market reaction holds true.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Blindsiding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blindsiding. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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