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 traps
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
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Yep, some of those names are nice surprises.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The home at 4573 Greenview Drive unfolds across 4,523 square feet with four en suite bedrooms and pleasant surprises around every corner.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2025
The newest crop of Euphoria stars all came as surprises — except for one.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
De Vliegende Hollander is a boat ride-meets-coaster with a few exhilarating surprises, best not spoiled by a YouTube ride-through.
—Zachary Laks, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
There is still a long ways to go in the 2025 season, but Rodgers and the Steelers have been one of the bigger surprises to start the year.
—Mark Kern, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The crowd was in for several surprises.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
No surprises with availability report Everything is essentially status quo for the Hurricanes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Kendall Jenner surprises students from UT Austin with 818 Tequila and Uber Eats tailgate supplies ahead of Tailgate with 818 in Dallas.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
You’re pitched an offer that surprises you as Venus and Jupiter harmonize.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Japanese Walking Focuses on Effort, Not Step Count What surprises me most is how differently IWT frames the idea of progress.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Red Rock has been a huge part of my life, but Nevada still surprises me with how much there is to see and do.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025
Nothing surprises me anymore in football.
—Sam Joseph, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Respecting the medium often surprises me with the most rewarding outcomes.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
The other thing that still surprises me is how many people are still willing to apply to come do it.
—Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
New York’s start to the 2025 season has been one of the biggest surprises.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Yep, some of those names are nice surprises.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The home at 4573 Greenview Drive unfolds across 4,523 square feet with four en suite bedrooms and pleasant surprises around every corner.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2025
The newest crop of Euphoria stars all came as surprises — except for one.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
De Vliegende Hollander is a boat ride-meets-coaster with a few exhilarating surprises, best not spoiled by a YouTube ride-through.
—Zachary Laks, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
There is still a long ways to go in the 2025 season, but Rodgers and the Steelers have been one of the bigger surprises to start the year.
—Mark Kern, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The crowd was in for several surprises.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
No surprises with availability report Everything is essentially status quo for the Hurricanes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
But every now and then a recipe surprises us.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Kendall Jenner surprises students from UT Austin with 818 Tequila and Uber Eats tailgate supplies ahead of Tailgate with 818 in Dallas.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
You’re pitched an offer that surprises you as Venus and Jupiter harmonize.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Japanese Walking Focuses on Effort, Not Step Count What surprises me most is how differently IWT frames the idea of progress.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Red Rock has been a huge part of my life, but Nevada still surprises me with how much there is to see and do.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025
Nothing surprises me anymore in football.
—Sam Joseph, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Respecting the medium often surprises me with the most rewarding outcomes.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
The other thing that still surprises me is how many people are still willing to apply to come do it.
—Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
Noun
-
Machined from artisan-grade materials, the HTI chassis is designed to absorb shocks, withstand abuse, and perform under the harshest combat and environmental conditions.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Prolonged uncertainty, more protectionism, and labor supply shocks could reduce growth.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In basic multiplayer fashion, there are bottlenecked spaces for ambushes, and everything loops together just fine for flanking.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Personality-wise, Luca amazes me.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
14 Oct. 2025
-
What amazes me is how the same film sparks such different conversations, depending on the room.—
Eitan Weiss,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Vaccaro says the revelations about Lorch came as a shock to much of the basketball world, because from the outside, Lorch seemed beyond reproach.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Victoria Beckham has enjoyed plenty of press in the UK, with newspapers picking over the revelations in the series, and Netflix executing marketing stunts, such as a takeover of London Underground’s Victoria line.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Suiting With a Pop Greta Lee always stuns on the red carpet—but her street style game is just as good.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
17 Oct. 2025
-
However, the show is pulled off without a hitch and Gigi Hadid stuns as its closer in an emerald green gown.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Then de Moura decided to drop a few bombshells of her own, accusing her former bestie of not just cheating with her but with two men.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
-
And the headline bombshells continue in the who-did-what-when mortgage dustups.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As the dolphin gets closer to the glass, the Chihuahua lets out a bark that startles the dolphin, who then starts mimicking the dog's mouth movements in a sort of chasing game across species.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
His work astonishes and moves people far beyond the fashion bubble to this day.—
WWD Staff,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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