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
Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
One of the many surprises from the election included the election day turnout numbers, Holladay said.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, Sainz managed to pull off multiple surprises last year.
—The Athletic, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
After the song is done, though, its building blocks seem to evaporate from memory; their vaporousness left me yearning for more surprises, or a tighter lock on the groove.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2026
This immersive magic experience is one of Reno’s most delightfully strange surprises and an example of the city’s edgy creative scene.
—Ted Alvarez, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
This slick femme fatale thriller from director Rebecca Thomas finds DeHaan in fine form and and features a screenplay from Daniel Casey that’s lined with surprises.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Think through these issues so there are no surprises once you’re retired.
—Brian Baker Cfa, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Weapons appear without imagination, surprises blur together, and the staging feels lacking in basic conviction.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
The interesting question is by how much, and whether one of them surprises us.
—Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Nocturnal tornadoes and tornado outbreaks What surprises many people isn’t just tornadoes – but tornadoes that hit after dark.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
While this admission made at the NFL Combine surprises absolutely nobody, the description, and a subtle exclusion, does provide a hint of what’s to come this spring and summer.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
That first launch into darkness goes about 40 mph and surprises some people, even though the word LAUNCH looms over the portal.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
That Toberoff would be in the middle of this legal battle surprises nearly everyone—no one more than him.
—Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
This detail often surprises those who hear it; many assume that most apparel manufacturing has long decamped overseas.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Further insight into what surprises the new season may bring, can be found below in the character descriptions for the new recurring cast.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Mexico was one of the surprises in the previous edition, led by Randy Arozarena.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
One of the many surprises from the election included the election day turnout numbers, Holladay said.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, Sainz managed to pull off multiple surprises last year.
—The Athletic, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
After the song is done, though, its building blocks seem to evaporate from memory; their vaporousness left me yearning for more surprises, or a tighter lock on the groove.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2026
This immersive magic experience is one of Reno’s most delightfully strange surprises and an example of the city’s edgy creative scene.
—Ted Alvarez, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
This slick femme fatale thriller from director Rebecca Thomas finds DeHaan in fine form and and features a screenplay from Daniel Casey that’s lined with surprises.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Think through these issues so there are no surprises once you’re retired.
—Brian Baker Cfa, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Weapons appear without imagination, surprises blur together, and the staging feels lacking in basic conviction.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
The five teams scatter to their work stations, bemoaning the 92-degree heat (no one complains about the noisy vroom vroom of the racecar driving around, which surprises me), and get to work.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
The interesting question is by how much, and whether one of them surprises us.
—Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Nocturnal tornadoes and tornado outbreaks What surprises many people isn’t just tornadoes – but tornadoes that hit after dark.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
While this admission made at the NFL Combine surprises absolutely nobody, the description, and a subtle exclusion, does provide a hint of what’s to come this spring and summer.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
That first launch into darkness goes about 40 mph and surprises some people, even though the word LAUNCH looms over the portal.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
That Toberoff would be in the middle of this legal battle surprises nearly everyone—no one more than him.
—Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
This detail often surprises those who hear it; many assume that most apparel manufacturing has long decamped overseas.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Further insight into what surprises the new season may bring, can be found below in the character descriptions for the new recurring cast.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
Noun
-
Understanding past oil shocks is important, but relying on them too heavily can encourage the wrong conclusion — that we are either headed for a 1979-style crisis or that the economic consequences will be negligible.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Experts say one option that could help tame prices at the pump is tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the nation's emergency oil stockpile designed to cushion supply shocks.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the months before the surge in operations, police lost 25 armored vehicles to ambushes involving barricades, trenches and Molotov cocktail attacks, authorities said.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Hamas has used the tunnels to store weapons, hide hostages and stage ambushes of Israeli soldiers.—
Samuel Granados,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Eva’s romance with her husband, Franklin Plaskett, delights and amazes her.—
Adelle Waldman,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
-
What amazes me is how good human beings can be in a crisis.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Patients with myositis, an immune disease that attacks muscle, have shown significant improvements in strength.—
Jason Liebowitz,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The Ghostface killer attacks them, leaving two dead, including Lucas, impaled on a sharp beer tap handle.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This could cause jolts in the energy markets.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Literal and figurative pain points included ensuring each piece properly conducting electricity, rigging every square with mechanical keyboard switches to facilitate the connections, and countless unintentional jolts.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hyundai stuns with Atlas Hyundai showcased Atlas at CES in Las Vegas last month.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Jimenez created this look using two coats of a bronzy pearl polish accented with subtle green glitter, resulting in a finish that stuns with its simplicity.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
All the secrets pour out, the revelations of infidelity and addiction and so on, as the group gives vent to the stuff that’s previously been unsayable—not to fix anything, mind you, since some things can’t be fixed.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Surprises on the Seamount Chain The Shichiyo Seamount Chain delivered its own revelations.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Saudi Aramco has offered prompt crude supply through a series of rare tenders, as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz traps shipments and forces a rerouting of flows via the Red Sea.—
Yongchang Chin,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
That mulch covering the not-so-lovely fabric traps wayward weed seeds and nurtures them.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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