SUDDENLY Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

suddenly

adverb

Definition of suddenly next

as in abruptly

with great suddenness the bus stopped suddenly, and somebody's lunch landed in the aisle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unexpectedly

without warning suddenly, something fell out of the sky and landed in the field a few feet away

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of suddenly There was so much physical comedy, and setting up jokes, and having to hit the rhythm, and then suddenly something totally tragic happens. —

Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026 An exciting next step would be to study what happens near a quantum phase transition—a point where a material suddenly changes its state, similar to water freezing into ice, but driven by quantum effects. —

Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2026 Carpenter’s Girl Meets World co-star Fogelmanis suddenly appeared towards the end of Sarandon’s interlude, playing a tired waiter who was trying to clock out for an emergency. —

Lara Walsh, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026 This is especially true for finicky houseplants like fiddle leaf figs and crotons, which are known to suddenly lose their leaves after being moved to a new place or receiving a sudden change in care. —

Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026 Rising like dough on a warm counter, a bakery famous for its gourmet vegan cinnamon rolls is suddenly back in the Bay Area. —

John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026 Even the interest rate outlook brightened this week, with fed funds futures suddenly pricing in at least one cut by the end of the year. —

Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026 How could something that started off so silly suddenly turn harrowingly lethal? —

Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026 And with that aside comment, Shohat pounced, accusing Perera of suddenly having a memory lapse after testifying as a cooperating government witness without any problems for two full days. —

Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suddenly

Adverb

Two tankers carrying liquid petroleum gas (LPG) that were heading out of the Persian Gulf have abruptly turned round amidst Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship tracking data.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Following the climactic portrayal of bombings in Iran and Gaza, the Strokes’ video montage ended with a shot of a bomber plane in the air, as the song abruptly ended.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026