Synonyms of sudden

sudden

adjective

ˈsə-dᵊn 

as in unexpected

not expected

the sudden snowstorm resulted in thousands of evening commuters abandoning their cars on impassable highways

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unexpected
• abrupt
• unforeseen
• unanticipated
• unlooked-for
• unlikely
• surprising
• startling
• improbable
• unplanned
• unintended

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• anticipated
• foreseen
• expected
• predicted
• prophesied
• unsurprising

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sudden contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sudden are abrupt, headlong, impetuous, and precipitate. While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

When might abrupt be a better fit than sudden?

Although the words abrupt and sudden have much in common, abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

When is it sensible to use headlong instead of sudden?

While in some cases nearly identical to sudden, headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

When is impetuous a more appropriate choice than sudden?

The meanings of impetuous and sudden largely overlap; however, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

Where would precipitate be a reasonable alternative to sudden?

While the synonyms precipitate and sudden are close in meaning, precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sudden

The platform also forecast sudden bursts of energy at the edge of the fuel. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

The sudden rise of a team which was playing fourth-tier soccer as recently as 2022 still manages to surprise its own staff. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Panicking or making sudden movements can agitate the snake further. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Kansas and Missouri have two of the nation’s largest cattle populations, making agriculture another major industry in the area that is dealing with the uncertainty from the sudden changes in trade policy. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing sudden

• all of a sudden

Video

'All over sudden' vs. 'All of a sudden'

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