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
Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Related Stories Of course, that number could climb, as there are usually a handful of surprises, last-minute launches and obscure entries (some of which self-submit) that appear just before the eligibility window closes.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
The rest of the first round will likely feature trades and some surprises.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Not much about Aspirot’s game surprises Marco Sturm anymore.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
What cereals will feature 'Toy Story 5' surprises?
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Similar to Coachella’s surprises, the festival recently announced that Dan + Shay are on the bill for Friday on the Palomino Stage.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
In a campaign season filled with surprises, Steve Hilton may be the biggest shock of them all.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
As Mavis’s journey continues, the show promises surprises, laughter, and empowerment.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Nothing surprises you at Forest, but the Pereira situation feels relatively settled at present.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
This surprises many people, especially since the rules for the front seat are so strict and apply to everyone, regardless of age.
—Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
The first is that Agnes is in love with him, which surprises him despite the numerous occasions he’s gone out of his way to attract her attention.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
But Ran, another dark horse favorite and Kurosawa’s least straightforward Shakespeare adaptation, beat Carol, which surprises me.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Your Skin Benefits Too This one surprises people, but the research backs it up.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Tulsa responded with a level of generosity that still surprises him.
—Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 7 Apr. 2026
The grandeur that surprises many first-time observers is the result of an extraordinarily long and complex geological history.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
In a 2025 college football season full of surprises, nothing was more shocking than the rapid end to Sherrone Moore’s tenure as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Related Stories Of course, that number could climb, as there are usually a handful of surprises, last-minute launches and obscure entries (some of which self-submit) that appear just before the eligibility window closes.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
The rest of the first round will likely feature trades and some surprises.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Not much about Aspirot’s game surprises Marco Sturm anymore.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
What cereals will feature 'Toy Story 5' surprises?
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Similar to Coachella’s surprises, the festival recently announced that Dan + Shay are on the bill for Friday on the Palomino Stage.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
In a campaign season filled with surprises, Steve Hilton may be the biggest shock of them all.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
As Mavis’s journey continues, the show promises surprises, laughter, and empowerment.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Shrivers’ lasting influence still surprises their children.
—Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Nothing surprises you at Forest, but the Pereira situation feels relatively settled at present.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
This surprises many people, especially since the rules for the front seat are so strict and apply to everyone, regardless of age.
—Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
The first is that Agnes is in love with him, which surprises him despite the numerous occasions he’s gone out of his way to attract her attention.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
But Ran, another dark horse favorite and Kurosawa’s least straightforward Shakespeare adaptation, beat Carol, which surprises me.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Your Skin Benefits Too This one surprises people, but the research backs it up.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Tulsa responded with a level of generosity that still surprises him.
—Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 7 Apr. 2026
The grandeur that surprises many first-time observers is the result of an extraordinarily long and complex geological history.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
Noun
-
During the great financial crisis—when shocks hit our economy, unemployment spiked, our economic system faced collapse, and America’s standing in the world was scrutinized—our central bank played an indispensable role.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
These jets can help scientists better understand how black holes help shape galaxies and other cosmic structures through large-scale shocks and turbulence.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Service members could face ambushes en route, and specialized units would need to extract the uranium.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Once an octopus ambushes and bites its prey, the venom in its saliva paralyzes the prey, allowing the octopus to consume it.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 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
-
The man attacks the woman with the hammer multiple times before stepping over her unmoving body and walking away out of the frame of the camera.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Apr. 2026
-
She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa — an eye disease that causes vision loss — and lupus, a disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy tissues and organs instead of fighting germs, according to court records.—
Chase Jordan
April 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The jolts are muted, the setpieces are drab, and the gore is all too literally kept under wraps.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Then, as the pandemic waned, in 2023 and early ’24, came two jolts to the system – federal pandemic-era assistance ended, pulling food and food-related funding away from charities, and the number of people seeking food continued to grow.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 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
-
Frankie Grande stuns in a velvet and diamond-studded emsemble for the premiere of Broadway's Titanique on April 12.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Trump's attack stuns the world.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Kahan and director Nick Sweeney discuss the doc's revelations as the singer's 'The Great Divide' album is about to arrive.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Brilliantly produced by the team at Red Planet, The Only Suspect promises to deliver a gripping story full of shocking revelations and twists.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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