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
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
July 3 could bring shocks or surprises; just beware of being too risky or impulsive.
—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
Understanding your deductibles and coverage limits before a storm arrives can prevent unpleasant surprises later.
—
Stephen Hauptman,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
While the quarter itself contained few surprises, management struck an encouraging tone on the freight market, saying demand is beginning to stabilize after a multiyear downturn.
—
Alexa Lomonaco,
CNBC,
27 June 2026
There are no surprises, whether doing a barrel roll to deflect lasers or flying under arches and through a waterfall to find an alternate path.
—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2026
There are contradictions, fears and surprises—both positive, like becoming a great grandparent and negative, like dealing with divorce.
—
Nancy K. Schlossberg,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The word on the street is each stop welcomes more familiar faces from Housewives history to join the celebration, revisit defining moments, and stir up surprises that will have everyone shaking, physically shaking.
—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2026
Over the past few years, large language models have brought surprises, and some of them are concerning.
—
Robert Wright,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
29 June 2026
What surprises people most is the diversity of the landscape here.
—
Sarah Sekula,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
This is where the junk drawer surprises people.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
Home to the largest freshwater dune system in the world, Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore often surprises first-time visitors with its stunning 450-feet-high dunes set against the deep-blue waters of Lake Michigan.
—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
24 June 2026
The explanation often surprises viewers, many of whom assume a house sold for one euro must come with significant strings attached.
—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
What surprises founders is how often the fixes are small.
—
Usman Ilyas,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
His plans take a turn when Minnie surprises him and the gang with tickets to spend Christmas at a world-famous Ice Palace.
—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
16 June 2026
What the program asks of you in return The 200 hours of sweat equity is the part of the program that surprises some applicants.
—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
Noun
And the gap between what people expect and what actually happens is one of the most expensive surprises in business.
—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
July 3 could bring shocks or surprises; just beware of being too risky or impulsive.
—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
Understanding your deductibles and coverage limits before a storm arrives can prevent unpleasant surprises later.
—
Stephen Hauptman,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
While the quarter itself contained few surprises, management struck an encouraging tone on the freight market, saying demand is beginning to stabilize after a multiyear downturn.
—
Alexa Lomonaco,
CNBC,
27 June 2026
There are no surprises, whether doing a barrel roll to deflect lasers or flying under arches and through a waterfall to find an alternate path.
—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2026
There are contradictions, fears and surprises—both positive, like becoming a great grandparent and negative, like dealing with divorce.
—
Nancy K. Schlossberg,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The word on the street is each stop welcomes more familiar faces from Housewives history to join the celebration, revisit defining moments, and stir up surprises that will have everyone shaking, physically shaking.
—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2026
Over the past few years, large language models have brought surprises, and some of them are concerning.
—
Robert Wright,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
Verb
However, this is also a series that surprises audiences with mysterious twins that have been under your nose the whole time.
—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
29 June 2026
What surprises people most is the diversity of the landscape here.
—
Sarah Sekula,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
This is where the junk drawer surprises people.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
Home to the largest freshwater dune system in the world, Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore often surprises first-time visitors with its stunning 450-feet-high dunes set against the deep-blue waters of Lake Michigan.
—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
24 June 2026
The explanation often surprises viewers, many of whom assume a house sold for one euro must come with significant strings attached.
—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
What surprises founders is how often the fixes are small.
—
Usman Ilyas,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
His plans take a turn when Minnie surprises him and the gang with tickets to spend Christmas at a world-famous Ice Palace.
—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
16 June 2026
What the program asks of you in return The 200 hours of sweat equity is the part of the program that surprises some applicants.
—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
Noun
-
Pandemic bottlenecks, wars, climate shocks and geopolitical tension exposed the fragility of global supply chains.
-
Asian stocks still have room to run even after a blistering first-half rally, while investors should continue diversifying into commodities as geopolitical shocks reinforce long-term demand for metals and energy infrastructure, Goldman Sachs said.
Noun
-
The Oscars, airing March 2 on ABC and streaming live on Hulu, will offer up kudos for some of these astonishments.
Noun
-
By his spiritual discernment, the prophet Elisha was repeatedly able to warn the king of Israel about ambushes planned by the king of Syria.
-
Cuba also maintains elite forces trained for counter-special-operations missions, guerrilla warfare, ambushes, sabotage and close protection of senior leaders.
Verb
-
More than 30 years later, what amazes me isn’t just what that team accomplished on the field.
-
This technology still amazes me.
Verb
-
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
-
Another device, called a 4-Poster bait station, attacks the ticks that congregate on deer’s heads.
Noun
-
Takeoff and landing are when many aviation incidents occur—they’re considered the most critical phases of a flight and when an aircraft is most vulnerable to sudden, unexpected jolts of motion.
-
The building jolts and is cloaked in blackness.
Noun
-
This is because the infrastructure of the city traps in all of the heat that built up during the day, thus preventing a normal nocturnal cooldown seen in non-urban settings.
-
One of the biggest traps organizations fall into is assuming employees already know what behaviors are valued.
Verb
-
Laura Dern looks amazing in marabou feathers, Marissa Long stuns in sequins, and Chris Messina is also there.
-
Torch Lake in Michigan stuns with its clear turquoise water, glacial origins, and iconic summer sandbar scene.
Cite this Entry
“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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