Thesaurus results for SURPRISES

surprises 1 of 2

noun

variants also surprizes

plural of surprise

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

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Relevance

as in amazements

the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual stared in utter surprise at the deer in his cabin

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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

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surprises

2 of 2

verb

variants also surprizes

present tense third-person singular of surprise

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

as in attacks

to lie in wait for and attack by surprise FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of surprises

Noun

Thursday is The New York Times’s favorite day of the week to publish crosswords with twists, surprises or extra layers of trickery to puzzle over. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Don’t avoid uncomfortable realities; addressing them head-on will spare you unwelcome surprises later. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2026 The story celebrates love in various forms and features unexpected twists, with moments of humor and others that evoke laughter, applause and even a few surprises from the audience. — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026 Once inside the building, they are plunged into an atmosphere that is part fun house, part art gallery and part museum, with surprises — and the odd shock — along the way. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026 Leaders who establish this discipline now will avoid costly surprises later and be better positioned to scale AI with confidence. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 But much like weather forecasts, the further into the future an oil market forecast looks, the more errors are possible, both with small errors in assumptions and big surprises nobody saw coming. — The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026 Samuel had emerged as one of the 49ers’ biggest surprises after joining the team late in training camp. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 None of this surprises labor economist Michael Rosenbaum, who said the popular narrative is that AI is replacing workers, but that isn’t the whole story. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026

Verb

Pears The fiber content of pears often surprises people, Johnson said. — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 22 Sep. 2026 The workers’ comp rule that surprises almost everyone Most states require workers’ compensation insurance once a business hires its first employee. — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 In the scene, Ashley dances in her bedroom to music on her Walkman when Smith walks in and surprises her by dancing along. — Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 The consequence is really mechanical attacking that surprises nobody and desperately needs a rogue element. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Every March and September, this event attracts spectators from all over to Apache Junction, eager to witness this breathtaking moment when nature surprises us. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Vintage Lighting Lighting is another one that surprises people, Gruver says. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026 But the 'people's RV maker' often surprises with its annual Caravan Salon slate. — New Atlas, 11 Aug. 2026 Advertisement Mosquitoes transmit heartworm disease, a connection Markowski says surprises many dog owners. — Angela Haupt, Time, 3 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises

Noun

After the Federal Open Market Committee voted to keep interest rates steady in July, Warsh promised to keep an eye on the markets and address price shocks when necessary.

— Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
The generally solid job market has helped consumers spend, although many economists remain surprised by how well shoppers have weathered a series of shocks, including higher gas prices, inflation, political uncertainty and growing fears about AI.

— Evan Clark, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of shocks

Noun

With roads around the hospital unsafe, transferring patients to other facilities was not an option in the first hours of the attack, while sending ambulances into the field risked exposing them to Hamas ambushes.

— Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Social Media Capture The underlying tactic is not new, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces having previously used armed FPV drones to conduct roadside ambushes.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of ambushes

Verb

What amazes me is there seems to be a wide swath of Michiganders who don’t seem to mind being lied to.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
His greatness is never in question, but to have the league at a standstill because of a 41-year-old free agent amazes me.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of amazes

Verb

Some of the most popular entries include SCP-173, a concrete statue that attacks anyone who breaks eye contact, and SCP-682, a supremely intelligent reptile that can adapt to any environment and rapidly heal any injury.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Johnson, a longevity-maxxing advocate, announced in July that he was diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis, a chronic inflammatory condition where the immune system attacks the cells within the stomach lining.

— Renée Onque, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

The dwelling has evolved over the years as Jenner has matured and trends have shifted, now imbued with warm neutrals and an air of serenity rather than bold jolts of energy.

— Architectural Digest, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2026
Riley, who finished with 232 all-purpose yards Friday, provided the jolts early as the Blackhawks used big plays to counter the grind-it-out attack used by Streamwood.

— Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of jolts

Verb

Innanen stuns as Paul Baker — full name all the time — a Canadian newcomer to the group who becomes integral to his friends’ emotional processing all while operating as the resident Gen-Z eye candy.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
Princess Kate stuns at Wimbledon 2026, hands out tickets to fansNeed a news break?

— Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of stuns

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surprises

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“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of surprises

noun

verb

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