1
as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
the surprising news that they were going to have a baby had them rushing to buy nursery furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in astonishing
causing wonder or astonishment
it's surprising how much knowledge of physics the architects of those immense medieval cathedrals must have had
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also surprizing
1
as in amazing
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 ambushing
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 surprising
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Rich in slow-digesting protein, cottage cheese is a surprising star in blended desserts like ice cream and cheesecake filling.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Detroit rapper Kash Doll pulled out all the stops for her boyfriend, NFL star Za’Darius Smith’s 33rd birthday, surprising him with a custom ride that has fans talking.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surprising
Adjective
This space is surprising in all the right ways.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Rich in slow-digesting protein, cottage cheese is a surprising star in blended desserts like ice cream and cheesecake filling.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
After tense standoffs with Mallory (Crystle Stewart) and Horace's ex-wife, Olivia (Debbi Morgan), Kimmie enters the meeting and promptly takes it over, surprising the family with her mind for numbers.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Detroit rapper Kash Doll pulled out all the stops for her boyfriend, NFL star Za’Darius Smith’s 33rd birthday, surprising him with a custom ride that has fans talking.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprising
Adjective
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The Perfect Neighbor is among the most startling documentaries Netflix has released onto its platform in years.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
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Your fantasies are startling yet most opportune; your French landscape as much there as the handsome red cover itself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Everything about it pleases me, from the correctness of all the enclitic marks upward, to the astonishing lambency of the whole.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The astonishing young actor known as Master Betty was the prototype of the species.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The offense also turned in another strong performance, ambushing Scherzer for three runs out of the gate before later getting home runs from Masataka Yoshida and Carlos Narvaez to turn the game into a rout.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
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The entertainment giant accused Sling TV’s parent of ambushing it with the offering, allegedly without consultation, to capitalize on the starts of the college football and NFL seasons.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Dan Aykroyd's amazing cameo as the iconic Ray Stantz from Ghostbusters is a treat to watch.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t the first time a homeowner has shared an amazing discovery during a renovation.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For the creation of wonderful characters and a story that feels spontaneous yet precise in its depiction of power, its moral dilemmas, and the absurd contradictions with the human condition.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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Walston had a wonderful calming spirit.—
Cameron Crowe,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This interview also comes just weeks after her shocking Dancing With the Stars elimination.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
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His nearly $50 million buyout is the second richest in college football history, shocking not just for the price but also because of the team’s recent success.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Michele Di Gregorio made a stunning double save and was only beaten when a Vinicius Junior shot came back off the post and Jude Bellingham reacted quicker to it than Lloyd Kelly.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The network’s newest house hunting series, the 12-episode World’s Bargain Dream Homes (wt) from Twenty Twenty Television, will follow people brave enough to purchase the world’s most affordable properties that also happen to be stunning, turnkey and in desirable locations around the globe.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The bad feelings flared up moments after Payton's Broncos pulled off a miraculous rally on Sunday, beating New York 33-32 in a game that Denver trailed by 18 with six minutes left.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
22 Oct. 2025
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Since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos and raising expectations around the NFL, the Chargers have been on a less-than-stellar stretch in which their only victory in their past four games was a miraculous, last-minute win over the struggling Miami Dolphins.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprising. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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