as in suddenly
without warning
the snow started unexpectedly
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Recent Examples of unexpectedly
There are mud pools from Yellowstone National Park that have a squeamish gurgle, and hearing them amid a crackling bonfire feels unexpectedly harmonious, even plausible.
—
Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The film follows two former lovers (Melchior and Mylchreest) who unexpectedly reunite on a Christmas night in Porto.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
Fantle, who spent a lifetime interviewing Golden Age celebrities to preserve their stories for posterity, died unexpectedly Tuesday at his home in Milwaukee following a cardiovascular emergency.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Inter Miami was 2-0 under interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, who took over last week when Javier Mascherano unexpectedly stepped down for personal reasons seven games into the season.
—Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
In Sport mode, the marque’s latest benchmark in aesthetics, athleticism, and approachability begins to feel almost like a grand tourer, with a suspension unexpectedly cossetting.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2026
Aline is unexpectedly freed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as authorities release detainees accused of minor offenses to free up the overpopulated jails.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Additional features include CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the network level, and a Kill Switch that cuts internet access if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026
During the outing, the hunting party unexpectedly encountered a group of five female elephants with a calf.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The film follows two former lovers (Melchior and Mylchreest) who unexpectedly reunite on a Christmas night in Porto.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
Fantle, who spent a lifetime interviewing Golden Age celebrities to preserve their stories for posterity, died unexpectedly Tuesday at his home in Milwaukee following a cardiovascular emergency.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Inter Miami was 2-0 under interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, who took over last week when Javier Mascherano unexpectedly stepped down for personal reasons seven games into the season.
—Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
In Sport mode, the marque’s latest benchmark in aesthetics, athleticism, and approachability begins to feel almost like a grand tourer, with a suspension unexpectedly cossetting.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2026
Aline is unexpectedly freed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as authorities release detainees accused of minor offenses to free up the overpopulated jails.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Additional features include CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the network level, and a Kill Switch that cuts internet access if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026
During the outing, the hunting party unexpectedly encountered a group of five female elephants with a calf.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexpectedly
suddenly
Adverb
-
Tamerlan and the owner are both suddenly on edge.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Depth-chart impact The Ravens’ edge-rush room suddenly looks pretty crowded.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unexpectedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexpectedly. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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