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
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
The streets are covered in urine (dog or otherwise), and the subways are filled with unpleasant surprises.
—Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Novel experiences—firsts, surprises, anything that catches the brain off guard—are the moments most likely to stick.
—Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 8 Apr. 2026
There will always be both pleasant surprises and unpleasant surprises.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
What were the biggest surprises there?
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
In the original show, Hal was often the one planning special surprises for Lois.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 8 Apr. 2026
That’s true even for routine reviews without any surprises, but add to that the potential for people to challenge the review and force costly reexamination or even litigation — something that practically anyone who might conceivably be affected by a development can do.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
No one likes surprises on a wedding day, but sometimes Mother Nature has her own agenda.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026
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
Jake Oettinger of the @DallasStars surprises an @AmericanAir flight!
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Technology that feels upscale Where the Trax truly surprises is in its cabin technology.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
But the beauty of solo travel is the freedom to pivot — to extend a trail that surprises you or linger in a neighborhood that pulls you in.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
What often surprises first-time buyers is that physical gold almost always sells above the spot price.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Continue reading … MASSIVE UPSET — Venezuela surprises Team USA in thrilling World Baseball Classic final victory.
—FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
Headliners include Don Toliver, Mustard and Kehlani with additional surprises throughout the night.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
The streets are covered in urine (dog or otherwise), and the subways are filled with unpleasant surprises.
—Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Novel experiences—firsts, surprises, anything that catches the brain off guard—are the moments most likely to stick.
—Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 8 Apr. 2026
There will always be both pleasant surprises and unpleasant surprises.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
What were the biggest surprises there?
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
In the original show, Hal was often the one planning special surprises for Lois.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 8 Apr. 2026
That’s true even for routine reviews without any surprises, but add to that the potential for people to challenge the review and force costly reexamination or even litigation — something that practically anyone who might conceivably be affected by a development can do.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
No one likes surprises on a wedding day, but sometimes Mother Nature has her own agenda.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Jake Oettinger of the @DallasStars surprises an @AmericanAir flight!
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Technology that feels upscale Where the Trax truly surprises is in its cabin technology.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
But the beauty of solo travel is the freedom to pivot — to extend a trail that surprises you or linger in a neighborhood that pulls you in.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
What often surprises first-time buyers is that physical gold almost always sells above the spot price.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Continue reading … MASSIVE UPSET — Venezuela surprises Team USA in thrilling World Baseball Classic final victory.
—FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
Noun
-
Still, said Buckberg, the series of back-to-back shocks over the past five years could make this moment different, leaving drivers more sensitive to swings at the pump — and more frustrated by the volatility.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Fossil fuel shocks have historically strengthened the case for alternative energy sources, and green hydrogen could again benefit from higher fossil fuel prices — at least temporarily.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
7 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
-
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
-
Two of America’s largest tech companies suffered stunning defeats in court this week, sustaining early jolts in what could prove to be a seismic shift in how social media operates amid a new landscape of legal risk.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
28 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
-
South Carolina stuns undefeated UConn 62-48, snapping the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak and advancing to the women’s NCAA championship game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
-
This trail stuns in either direction, but beginning at Clark Forks cuts elevation gain by nearly 2,000 feet.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As playful re-enactments give way to haunting revelations, Dea and Asllan confront the painful disappearance of a beloved matriarch and the collective scars of a community grappling with memory and loss.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The immediate future of the inspector general’s office is particularly pressing now because of recent revelations that one of Johnson’s most senior lieutenants, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Garien Gatewood, had lodged a whistleblower complaint with Witzburg’s office last October.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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