unawares

adverb

ˌən-ə-ˈwerz How to pronounce unawares (audio)
Definition of unawaresnext
as in suddenly
without warning the thunderstorm caught us unawares, and we scrambled to get off the ridge as lightning started to flash

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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 unawares Short squeezes can happen when a troubled company bounces back, catching doubters unawares. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 22 July 2025 However, with no standardized dimensions across airlines, travelers have often been caught unawares with incorrectly sized bags when switching between carriers. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 5 July 2025 This was not the first time the Alaska Volcanic Observatory (AVO) had been caught unawares by Veniaminof, even with rigorous monitoring. — Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 16 June 2025 The swiftness with which the market changed their stripes caught us unawares and big gains weren’t taken. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unawares
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unawares
  1. suddenly
  2. unexpectedly
Adverb
  • The reports about the Buss family’s stake comes a few days after Lakers owner Mark Walter suddenly agreed to sell the team to Kushner and Iger last week amid a federal fraud investigation, giving them a roughly 65% stake in the team.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The business was forced to close, leaving Stroh, her husband and their staff out of a job suddenly.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of suddenly
Adverb
  • Before anyone could tap their heels on the floor and start the party, though, fire sprinklers went off unexpectedly in a nearby hotel room, forcing everyone to evacuate the building.
    — DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The spacecraft unexpectedly remained intact after splashdown in the Indian Ocean last month, prompting SpaceX officials to come up with an ad hoc plan to recover the vehicle.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of unexpectedly

Browse Nearby Words

unawareness
unawares
unbalance
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Cite this Entry

“Unawares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unawares. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unawares

Nglish: Translation of unawares for Spanish Speakers

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