SUDDENLY Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

suddenly

adverb

Definition of suddenly

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

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Recent Examples of suddenly After being stabbed in the ass by Northmen Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan), Ulf’s (Tom Bennett) dragon suddenly roars in from above and takes them both out in a giant ball of fire. — Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026 That ominous focus runs beneath the trailer, beneath the guns, frantic confrontations, cars, and glimpses of a family suddenly forced to look over its shoulder. — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2026 Investors should not expect to suddenly see stand-alone farmland funds appear alongside index funds in every 401(k) plan. — Artem Milinchuk, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Beansie was a 5-year-old German shepherd who suddenly died last month after a short but aggressive battle with blastomycosis — a fungal disease found in soil and decaying organic matter, often around fresh water. — Christopher Derose, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 When an airless body, such as an asteroid, occults (or hides) a background star the star's light winks out in an instant, before suddenly reappearing. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026 But the question is, why do billionaires suddenly need to build a bunch of cities everywhere? — Tonya Mosley, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 Advertisement When Little Death’s spear breaks the water, Kris, a director suddenly inside the picture, asks what should happen next. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 On the path back to King's Landing, Alicent is suddenly surrounded by wondrous blue butterflies. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suddenly

Adverb

The pursuit kept going past Cline Avenue before the Kia abruptly exited onto the Kennedy Avenue exit ramp, state police said.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
The mall closed in January 2015, except for Carson Pirie Scott, which shut its doors abruptly in March 2018.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of abruptly

Adverb

Persistent uncertainty The US economy unexpectedly lost 23,000 jobs last month, the BLS reported Friday, as businesses navigated the ongoing fallout from the months-long Iran war.

— Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
The film starts on an unexpectedly rainy day, when the family realizes they’re sealed into their house with no way of opening or smashing through the doors or windows.

— William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026