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
President Donald Trump is planning to meet with advisers Wednesday about an unexpected open seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, according to a person familiar with the matter.
—
Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
His unexpected cameo also served as a promotion for his Big3 basketball league, which is slated to play games at Heritage Bank Center on July 26, the last night of the Cincinnati Music Festival.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 27 July 2025
Houser, meanwhile, continued his unexpected run, holding the Cubs scoreless for six innings before giving up a three-run homer to Reese McGuire in garbage time.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 July 2025
What began as a spontaneous act of kindness led to an unexpected friendship, and despite their age difference, 29-year-old Estrella and 97-year-old Lilian discovered a surprising connection neither of them saw coming.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unexpected
Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
His unexpected cameo also served as a promotion for his Big3 basketball league, which is slated to play games at Heritage Bank Center on July 26, the last night of the Cincinnati Music Festival.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 27 July 2025
Houser, meanwhile, continued his unexpected run, holding the Cubs scoreless for six innings before giving up a three-run homer to Reese McGuire in garbage time.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 July 2025
What began as a spontaneous act of kindness led to an unexpected friendship, and despite their age difference, 29-year-old Estrella and 97-year-old Lilian discovered a surprising connection neither of them saw coming.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unexpected
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexpected
sudden
Adjective
-
The Sun’s entry into your 11th house on the 22nd brings focus to your social circles, but the square to Uranus on the 24th may lead to sudden changes in friendships or group dynamics.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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An unexpected, sudden layoff can feel like you’re blindsided by a truck.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unexpected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexpected. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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