variants
also surprizes
1
as in shocks
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected
the anniversary party was such a complete surprise that the couple was speechless for a moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in amazements
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
stared in utter surprise at the deer in his cabin
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ambushes
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait
waited under cover of darkness and took the enemy encampment by surprise at dawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
variants
also surprizes
1
as in amazes
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
2
as in attacks
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise
FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of surprises
James Ward, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Were the surprises still intact?
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Similar surprises followed when Chinese firms acquired century‑old Western brands such as Flex and SKIL, or premium Australian supplement maker Swisse.
—Harvard Business Review, 4 June 2026
Investment-grade corporate-credit spreads are now back to cycle lows, meaning the cushion against adverse surprises has worn pretty thin.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 June 2026
In some respects, Hold Onto Me Infinity is a straightforward record of contemporary electropop, with few outright surprises.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026
The accelerated timeline often leads to last-minute pivots involving weather, inventory shortages, and logistical surprises.
—Sonal Dutt, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
At the moment, no big surprises are on the horizon, Monday-Edsill said.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 2 June 2026
After a few words of introduction, Alexis started asking Graciela and me questions about our creative processes, about the importance of surprises in art, about the relationship between photographs and stories, about memory and mourning and pain.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Now, for the part that surprises most homeowners.
—Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 28 May 2026
The 6-foot-4 right-shot defenceman steps into the spot left vacant by Salomonsson’s injury and surprises us with great mobility, efficient puck retrievals, and crisp breakout passes.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Brown Tones Brown tones are the summer trend that surprises her the most.
—Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 24 May 2026
One thing that surprises many patients and families is that sepsis can have a long tail.
—Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
This often surprises people because, biologically speaking, humans aren’t entirely incapable of detecting UV light.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
But every now and then a recipe surprises us.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
However, his decision becomes even more complicated when their foster son, Isaiah (Hero Hunter), surprises them.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Noun
Tuesday’s primary elections across six states brought some surprises and history-making results, but now all eyes are on California as the results of the state’s primary are still coming in on Wednesday.
—James Ward, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Were the surprises still intact?
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Similar surprises followed when Chinese firms acquired century‑old Western brands such as Flex and SKIL, or premium Australian supplement maker Swisse.
—Harvard Business Review, 4 June 2026
Investment-grade corporate-credit spreads are now back to cycle lows, meaning the cushion against adverse surprises has worn pretty thin.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 June 2026
In some respects, Hold Onto Me Infinity is a straightforward record of contemporary electropop, with few outright surprises.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026
The accelerated timeline often leads to last-minute pivots involving weather, inventory shortages, and logistical surprises.
—Sonal Dutt, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
At the moment, no big surprises are on the horizon, Monday-Edsill said.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 2 June 2026
After a few words of introduction, Alexis started asking Graciela and me questions about our creative processes, about the importance of surprises in art, about the relationship between photographs and stories, about memory and mourning and pain.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Verb
If those dominoes start to fall in a way that surprises Wall Street, reactions will be much more adverse.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Now, for the part that surprises most homeowners.
—Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 28 May 2026
The 6-foot-4 right-shot defenceman steps into the spot left vacant by Salomonsson’s injury and surprises us with great mobility, efficient puck retrievals, and crisp breakout passes.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Brown Tones Brown tones are the summer trend that surprises her the most.
—Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 24 May 2026
One thing that surprises many patients and families is that sepsis can have a long tail.
—Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
This often surprises people because, biologically speaking, humans aren’t entirely incapable of detecting UV light.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
But every now and then a recipe surprises us.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
However, his decision becomes even more complicated when their foster son, Isaiah (Hero Hunter), surprises them.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
Noun
-
Europe is particularly vulnerable to energy shocks as a major net energy importer.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
-
The years since 2020 can be read as a sequence of shocks.—
Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Cuba also maintains elite forces trained for counter-special-operations missions, guerrilla warfare, ambushes, sabotage and close protection of senior leaders.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
Even in areas not under its direct control, the widespread sympathy in rural areas allows JNIM to set up ambushes along the main roads and dominate the main supply routes into the capitals, especially in Mali.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The second thing that strikes me more and actually amazes me is the fact that this is a story, a trope, that is repeated in most of the presentation of Agnes Pockels.—
Mariel Carr,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Eva’s romance with her husband, Franklin Plaskett, delights and amazes her.—
Adelle Waldman,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Democrats, meanwhile, say the rhetoric sounds strikingly similar to the populist arguments advanced by the very progressives DeSantis routinely attacks.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
-
Dennis waits until Mallory leaves to go on a bike ride, and then attacks her on the path.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The building jolts and is cloaked in blackness.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
Edwards’ explosiveness produces randomized jolts of spectacular.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The Oscars, airing March 2 on ABC and streaming live on Hulu, will offer up kudos for some of these astonishments.—
Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Laura Dern looks amazing in marabou feathers, Marissa Long stuns in sequins, and Chris Messina is also there.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
-
Torch Lake in Michigan stuns with its clear turquoise water, glacial origins, and iconic summer sandbar scene.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
The case of Rana al-Abbasi, who also was a dentist and who had been accused of funding the opposition, was well-known in Syria, and this week's revelations have received wide coverage in the country's news media.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
The team managed to gain access to festival in the desert’s shadowy leadership and key players, so expect some startling revelations.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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