as in suddenly
without warning
the snow started unexpectedly
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Recent Examples of unexpectedly
Though Euphoria actor Angus Cloud died unexpectedly in 2023 following season 2 of the HBO show, the actor's beloved character, Fezco, lives on in season 3.
—
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
In late February, Ellison’s Paramount Skydance prevailed in a nearly six-month bidding war after Netflix unexpectedly bowed out when the elder Ellison agreed to financially back his son’s $111-billion deal.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Turen unexpectedly died a month afterward, at the age of 44.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2026
Under his leadership, Tisza unexpectedly won almost 30% of the Hungarian votes in the European Parliament election in June 2024, making Magyar an MEP.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
Karácsony is one of those decent, upstanding politicians which degraded systems sometimes throw up unexpectedly.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Bissell has received 206 reports of the cleaners' attachments unexpectedly disconnecting from the machines as of April 9, resulting in 161 burn injuries and at least one second-degree burn.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
If activity strengthens unexpectedly, the glow could extend farther south into states such as Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, though the best chances remain closer to the Canadian border.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Logistically, this proved unexpectedly difficult.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
In late February, Ellison’s Paramount Skydance prevailed in a nearly six-month bidding war after Netflix unexpectedly bowed out when the elder Ellison agreed to financially back his son’s $111-billion deal.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Turen unexpectedly died a month afterward, at the age of 44.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2026
Under his leadership, Tisza unexpectedly won almost 30% of the Hungarian votes in the European Parliament election in June 2024, making Magyar an MEP.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
Karácsony is one of those decent, upstanding politicians which degraded systems sometimes throw up unexpectedly.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Bissell has received 206 reports of the cleaners' attachments unexpectedly disconnecting from the machines as of April 9, resulting in 161 burn injuries and at least one second-degree burn.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
If activity strengthens unexpectedly, the glow could extend farther south into states such as Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, though the best chances remain closer to the Canadian border.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Logistically, this proved unexpectedly difficult.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexpectedly
suddenly
Adverb
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There was so much physical comedy, and setting up jokes, and having to hit the rhythm, and then suddenly something totally tragic happens.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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An exciting next step would be to study what happens near a quantum phase transition—a point where a material suddenly changes its state, similar to water freezing into ice, but driven by quantum effects.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unexpectedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexpectedly. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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