variants
also surprized
as in startled
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variants
also surprized
1
as in amazed
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 ambushed
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
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Recent Examples of surprised
Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
And Baird said he has been positively surprised that Klee has not been limited to festivals’ horror programming blocks.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
The avid reaction to the Yiddish variant surprised everyone involved.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surprised
Adjective
Seated near the stage at the Los Angeles Convention Center, a camera feeding close-up images of her face to several screens, Carey appeared genuinely surprised by an auctioneer’s description of the backstage hangout in which she’d be expected to participate next month.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
And Baird said he has been positively surprised that Klee has not been limited to festivals’ horror programming blocks.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
While Babu surprised Rajamouli with his work ethic, Priyanka Chopra Jonas brought unexpected global dimensions to the production.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
The avid reaction to the Yiddish variant surprised everyone involved.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surprised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprised
Adjective
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Dwayne was startled when a scout approached him and referred to his son as an NBA prospect.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
7 Feb. 2026
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If guests are startled — or, more likely, amused — at your father’s being tieless and wearing sneakers, that is his problem.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What amazed me the most was the remains of what appeared to be a tall conifer — possibly a cypress or cedar — on Edgar Street in Pacific Palisades, where the Palisades fire ravaged an entire street.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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The universe amazed me yet again.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Investigators allege that Andrade and Rodriguez ambushed 6ix9ine’s mother at gunpoint in the garage of the rapper’s Wellington, Florida home.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan national in the leg after agents were allegedly ambushed and attacked with a shovel.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cubans were shocked by the US operation in January that captured their key ally, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and resulted in the deaths of more than 30 Cuban security forces protecting him.—
Bianna Golodryga,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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DeepSeek's release at the time shocked global investors, who thought China could not innovate on AI without high-end Nvidia chips.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One study in 2020 surveyed 261 herders in Mongolia, another common habitat for snow leopards; while many reported having seen snow leopards, or had their livestock attacked by snow leopards, none reported any attacks on humans.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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The upstream piranhas attacked her, and her blood flowing downstream attracted the rest of the piranhas, leaving the creek clear for the herd to cross.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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From decades old stalwarts that awed generations of diners to relative newcomers that arrived boasting critical acclaim, here are a few of the closures that hit hardest in 2025.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
30 Dec. 2025
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The Aggies lauded Kentucky as a great team and were still laughing in disbelief after the match, awed by their own accomplishments.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The opportunity wasn’t lost on Shula, the rock-solid legend who sat afterward at his locker, openly crying, in a manner that stunned Dolphins personnel.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
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Alphabet’s massive increase in AI infrastructure spending sets a new high water mark just one week after Meta stunned the Street by announcing plans to nearly double its capex to between $115 billion and $135 billion this year.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Since his starring days at Gonzaga, Timme has earned bewildered double takes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surprised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprised. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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