as in sudden
not expected
the failure of the backup generator was unexpected and a contingency for which we weren't prepared
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Recent Examples of unexpected
Additionally, the SmartThings app alerts you when the door is left open or if there’s an unexpected change in temperature.
—
Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
As if the stunning animation and rich worldbuilding weren’t enough, Arcane also has high-stakes lesbian tension — over the course of the show’s two seasons, Vi finds unexpected romance with Piltover enforcer Caitlyn (Katie Leung).
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
A little over 10 years ago, Micah Nelson‘s career took a very unexpected diversion when Neil Young asked him, his brother Lukas, and Lukas’ band Promise of the Real to back him on a series of albums, tours, and even a film that kept everyone busy until the pandemic hit.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Celine’s cycling helmets were one of the most pleasantly unexpected — and undeniably chic — accessories of the season.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unexpected
Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
As if the stunning animation and rich worldbuilding weren’t enough, Arcane also has high-stakes lesbian tension — over the course of the show’s two seasons, Vi finds unexpected romance with Piltover enforcer Caitlyn (Katie Leung).
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
A little over 10 years ago, Micah Nelson‘s career took a very unexpected diversion when Neil Young asked him, his brother Lukas, and Lukas’ band Promise of the Real to back him on a series of albums, tours, and even a film that kept everyone busy until the pandemic hit.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Celine’s cycling helmets were one of the most pleasantly unexpected — and undeniably chic — accessories of the season.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unexpected
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexpected
sudden
Adjective
-
Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The result was a sudden and deep selloff among regional banks, drawing comparisons to the churn of the 2023 banking crisis that consumed Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unexpected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexpected. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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