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surprising 1 of 2

adjective

sər-ˈprī-ziŋ How to pronounce surprising (audio)
Definition of surprisingnext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

surprising

2 of 2

verb

variants also surprizing
present participle of surprise
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

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2
as in ambushing
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations

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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 surprising
Adjective
The more surprising outcome could be if the central bank holds rates steady. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026 My emphasis on head-to-head results also creates rises from some surprising teams, like Tulsa and Western Michigan. — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
Duff also offered fans the ultimate throwback by surprising the crowd with Good Charlotte. — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026 The first episode of the high-stakes show will feature Marcus Samuelsson surprising Flay by joining his restaurant Hav & Mar’s team alongside his executive chef Fariyal Abdullahi. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for surprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprising
  1. startling
  2. astonishing
  3. amazing
  4. ambushing
  5. shocking
  6. wonderful
  7. stunning
  8. attacking
Adjective
  • Still, nothing in the war has seemed as startling or as consequential as their breakneck assault last week, which centered on the capture of Mokha, a major port city on the Red Sea, and Perim, a tiny island at the southern entrance to the waterway.
    — Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Back then the age of discovery was at its peak, and startling new information about what had previously been a very parochial planet was flooding into the academies of Europe and the Americas.
    — Ian Tattersall, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • The astonishing social movements of the decade—particularly the black freedom struggle and the antiwar movement—could have produced a more durable sense of solidarity and collective possibilities.
    — Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
  • One of the best actors working today, Coon essentially plays two different sides of Rita with astonishing range across these chronologies, portraying the past and the present of her character through distinctive markers.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of astonishing
Verb
  • In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.
    — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
Definition of amazing
Verb
  • However, officials have yet to determine exactly what type of animal is ambushing the unsuspecting humans.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • After ambushing Nobel hopeful Kersten onboard, Wohmann makes multiple attempts to interview him.
    — Alissa Simon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambushing
Adjective
  • His naked illusion dresses — the first worn by actress Mitzi Gaynor for a 1969 television special — was at first shocking but became liquid gold for Mackie, solidifying his legacy as a costume and fashion designer.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • While Week 2 of the college football season was filled with drama, the typical chaos, and the game of the year with Texas-Ohio State, the most shocking result of the weekend was Oklahoma State's upset win over the Oregon Ducks.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • That there’s a wonderful wedge salad to brighten up the plate is just icing on the cake.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Ornamental grasses are a wonderful way to spruce up your lawn or add some softness and movement to your garden.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Verb
  • Footage of the fight shared online showed Williams punching Colón in the back of the head in the seventh round, apparently stunning him.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Margaret deploys this power to find Daniel and to free him from Noah and the WARDEX minions—essentially, by stunning them emotionally.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Definition of stunning
Verb
  • The consequence is really mechanical attacking that surprises nobody and desperately needs a rogue element.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The baby has been with the couple since birth, and Uthmeier’s office is not attacking their fitness as parents, Jay said.
    — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of attacking

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Cite this Entry

“Surprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprising. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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