1
as in abruptly
with great suddenness
the bus stopped suddenly, and somebody's lunch landed in the aisle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of suddenly
Not for nothing, Diaz said the album’s once-silly, punny title is suddenly not so hilarious.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
Sadly, set-ups around this intense huis clos are often labored, with storylines that fizzle out and characters who become suddenly pivotal and then recede into the background.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Her favorite local pub, The Workman’s Friend in Plaza Midwood, a place full of happy memories, suddenly became a place to avoid.
—Charlottefive Staff, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2025
Its very viability as an idea suddenly hinged on Harmon's cosign.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Nov. 2025
As referee Dan Engler was administering a 10-count, an enraged Drew McIntyre suddenly stormed the ring.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Principal photography is underway in Dallas, Texas, on the film which follows the Kassis family, whose healthy young son, Jade, is suddenly stricken with HLH — a rare and deadly blood disorder that throws them into a battle for his life.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025
Sudoku, for those uninitiated, is the Japanese logic game that suddenly exploded in English-language media two decades ago.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Loomer asked, suddenly focussed.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
Sadly, set-ups around this intense huis clos are often labored, with storylines that fizzle out and characters who become suddenly pivotal and then recede into the background.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Her favorite local pub, The Workman’s Friend in Plaza Midwood, a place full of happy memories, suddenly became a place to avoid.
—Charlottefive Staff, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2025
Its very viability as an idea suddenly hinged on Harmon's cosign.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Nov. 2025
As referee Dan Engler was administering a 10-count, an enraged Drew McIntyre suddenly stormed the ring.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Principal photography is underway in Dallas, Texas, on the film which follows the Kassis family, whose healthy young son, Jade, is suddenly stricken with HLH — a rare and deadly blood disorder that throws them into a battle for his life.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025
Sudoku, for those uninitiated, is the Japanese logic game that suddenly exploded in English-language media two decades ago.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Loomer asked, suddenly focussed.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suddenly
Adverb
-
Then, abruptly, back to lightness, was a video showing a newborn’s heartwarming first encounter with the family dog.—
Lindsay Lowe,
Parents,
8 Nov. 2025
-
In the opening minutes, Courteney is abruptly fired over a barely scandalous video leak.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
The Ghostbusters actress discussed a sketch that made SNL head honcho Lorne Michaels unexpectedly lose it during an interview with the Good One podcast.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
-
When two unexpectedly return, the town dares to hope again.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suddenly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suddenly. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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