surprises 1 of 2

noun

variants also surprizes
plural of surprise
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

surprises

2 of 2

verb

variants also surprizes
present tense third-person singular of surprise
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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of surprises
Noun
To be sure, investors worry that fewer companies will report positive earnings surprises in the second quarter as did in the first, when profits were 15% above expectations, helping to unleash a surge of confidence on Wall Street. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 13 July 2026 After a short while, those types of surprises and turns kind of suck. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026 One of the biggest surprises of the draft, Schaffner was not viewed as a consensus first-round pick. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 12 July 2026 With the Round of 16 now complete and the quarterfinals set to run from July 9 through July 11, the 2026 World Cup retains ample capacity for further surprises and defining performances. — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2026 The surprises came from the rock acts brought in to reimagine the most evocative needle drops from Anderson’s ouvre. — Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 Those questions, and a lot more, are discussed as the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast‘s Michael Schneider, Emily Longeretta and Jazz Tangcay hit the roundtable to go over the winners, snubs and surprises from this week’s Emmy nominations. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 11 July 2026 Behind-the-scenes stories, exclusive reveals, and surprises are part of the program. — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026 In practice, per-graft pricing is where surprises tend to live. — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
Verb
What surprises me, actually, is – not surprises me, but what gratifies me is that Iranian attacks have been – not been larger or more capable. — CBS News, 12 July 2026 The Park Hyatt Chicago, which opened in 1980 as the first-ever Park Hyatt hotel, immediately surprises with its boutique vibe. — Rima Suqi, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026 Of course, something can always happen that surprises us and throws Wall Street for a loop. — Zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026 But Armand surprises himself sometimes with the admissions that come out. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 July 2026 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 Himalayan Restaurant Similar to Tropicali, Himalayan Restaurant surprises visitors to downtown Big Bear with its impressive Indian and Nepalese food. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026 What surprises people most is the diversity of the landscape here. — Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 26 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
  1. shocks
  2. astonishments
  3. ambushes
  4. amazes
  5. attacks
  6. jolts
  7. traps
  8. stuns
Noun
  • While China has buffered itself from the broader supply shocks, more expensive fuel and commodities could weigh on consumer sentiment and disrupt manufacturing.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • According to the complaint, DGCIM officers repeatedly beat him, fractured his back, administered electric shocks — including to his genitals — and threatened to kill him while extorting money from his wife.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of shocks
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
Definition of 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.
    — Liesl Ehmke, Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 2026
  • Cuba also maintains elite forces trained for counter-special-operations missions, guerrilla warfare, ambushes, sabotage and close protection of senior leaders.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Definition of ambushes
Verb
  • More than 30 years later, what amazes me isn’t just what that team accomplished on the field.
    — Charlie Davies, New York Times, 9 June 2026
  • This technology still amazes me.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
Definition of amazes
Verb
  • The once-quiet judges see a growing threat in a president who personally attacks jurists ruling against him.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • The study surveyed blood donations for the disease’s key antibody, which is in a class dubbed IgE and specifically attacks a double-sugar molecule called galactose-α-1,3-galactose, also known as alpha-gal.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026
Definition of attacks
Noun
  • Additional jolts of sophistication come courtesy of a custom Area Environments wall covering, a gold mirror from Made Goods, Jiun Ho sconces, and German photographer Ellen von Unwerth’s black and white snapshot of a carefree Naomi Campbell.
    — Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 13 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Definition of jolts
Noun
  • The district’s surveillance traps show numbers of Culex mosquitos — the primary vectors of West Nile virus — are at their highest.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • The federal agency detailed removal efforts on its website, including traps baited with eggs and trackers to lure tegus and study their movements.
    — Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026
Definition of traps
Verb
  • Zendaya stuns with a gold headpiece and archival Givenchy dress from 1997 ahead of a special event for The Odyssey in Paris on July 7.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
  • Set the scene This resort stuns, with magical panoramic views of the northern coastline of Crete.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of stuns

Browse Nearby Words

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surprises
surprising
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Cite this Entry

“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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