as in suddenly
without warning
the snow started unexpectedly
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Recent Examples of unexpectedly
While working on the project, costs ballooned unexpectedly—reaching well over six figures—and this doctrine became an important reminder when justifying the expenses.
—
Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2025
The team proposes a few different mechanisms that could account for the unexpectedly rapid brightening of this comet from beyond the solar system.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Cheryl Burke has unexpectedly found herself in the firing line for not giving one Dancing With the Stars contestant a sufficiently high score.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
The eerie glow earns these nocturnal mammals a spot on the growing list of unexpectedly radiant creatures.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Years later, tragedy struck again when Bryan's brother-in-law died unexpectedly.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025
The Veterans Day crossover will feature the younger Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and his team investigating the small-town death of a naval officer in the ‘90s on Origins – a case that will be unexpectedly reopened in the present day on NCIS.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Twenty minutes later, the plane unexpectedly returned to the airport.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Four years ago, my husband of 35 years unexpectedly died — he was gone within eight hours of entering the ER.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2025
The team proposes a few different mechanisms that could account for the unexpectedly rapid brightening of this comet from beyond the solar system.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Cheryl Burke has unexpectedly found herself in the firing line for not giving one Dancing With the Stars contestant a sufficiently high score.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
The eerie glow earns these nocturnal mammals a spot on the growing list of unexpectedly radiant creatures.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Years later, tragedy struck again when Bryan's brother-in-law died unexpectedly.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025
The Veterans Day crossover will feature the younger Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and his team investigating the small-town death of a naval officer in the ‘90s on Origins – a case that will be unexpectedly reopened in the present day on NCIS.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Twenty minutes later, the plane unexpectedly returned to the airport.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Four years ago, my husband of 35 years unexpectedly died — he was gone within eight hours of entering the ER.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexpectedly
suddenly
Adverb
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Then the 23-year-old's plane suddenly dove straight into the ground and caught on fire.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Their unlikely friendship ended in February 1987, when Warhol died suddenly after a complicated gall bladder operation.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unexpectedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexpectedly. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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