variants
also surprized
1
as in amazed
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
I was very surprised when my parents offered to pay the down payment on our house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ambushed
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise
FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations
Synonyms & Similar Words
variants
also surprized
as in dumfounded
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of surprised
NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
No one judged, hippies looked on surprised and complacently amused at what the kids would do.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Chantelle Lee, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The 36-year-old explained that her in-laws returned from a European trip and surprised her with an expensive designer bag at a recent family dinner.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surprised
Verb
In addition, many Department of Education employees who were furloughed were surprised to see a message blaming Democrats for the government shutdown inserted into their out-of-office replies.
—NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
No one judged, hippies looked on surprised and complacently amused at what the kids would do.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Advertisement Cuomo seeking a comeback from the center Cuomo’s loss in the Democratic Party’s June primary election surprised many people, as the former governor was initially considered to be a front-runner in the primary race.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The 36-year-old explained that her in-laws returned from a European trip and surprised her with an expensive designer bag at a recent family dinner.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surprised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprised
Verb
-
Through it all, your professionalism, determination, dedication, and spirit of collaboration have inspired me and amazed me time and time again.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
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Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Shares of Oracle surged 36% in yesterday’s session after the company’s cloud growth estimates amazed Wall Street.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Victims of the inmates include a family of four, a college student kidnapped from her bedroom, and a state trooper who was ambushed in his driveway.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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Last month, three officers were killed when they were ambushed while responding to a domestic call in York County, Pennsylvania.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, many of those watching Ray’s video were shocked at how long his daughter’s day at school was.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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Then, when the movie came to Netflix in 2021 and there was an online resurgence, she was once again shocked to learn about the series' impact.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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An Ohio woman ordered Charlie Kirk’s go-to Starbucks drink on Sunday evening — and was startled to find a hateful message written on the cup.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
22 Sep. 2025
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Steven reacts like a startled cat when Belly tells him, then pivots to comfort and action.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This revelation left the family stunned.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Byrne plays a mother whose precarious housing situation and family health crisis push her to the edge; Slater is her husband, away on business and — upon his return — stunned to realize just how bad things have gotten.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Veterans of past Administrations were astonished.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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The discovery astonished scientists, but so did the person who made it.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The women, visitors from the countryside, seemed awed by everything.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
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Little Penn would be awed and humbled.—
Sophie Ansari,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These uncanny real-life parallels have previously left viewers shocked and astounded.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Sep. 2025
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Predictably, the hubbub surrounding the photo was eventually framed as a war between uptight virgins and godless heathens, with a quieter contingent astounded only by the fact that this kind of marketing could still be so effective.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surprised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprised. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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