variants
also surprizes
1
as in shocks
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected
the anniversary party was such a complete surprise that the couple was speechless for a moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in amazements
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
stared in utter surprise at the deer in his cabin
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ambushes
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait
waited under cover of darkness and took the enemy encampment by surprise at dawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
variants
also surprizes
1
as in amazes
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
I was very surprised when my parents offered to pay the down payment on our house
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in attacks
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise
FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of surprises
Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
The rest of my day included more life-affirming surprises.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Nearly every player and coach has identified the rookie as one of the biggest surprises so far with how quickly she’s adjusted to her role as the team’s floor general despite her inexperience.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
Martínez hosts monthly supper clubs that are open to the public for $125 per person, which includes welcome bites, mocktails and a four-course dinner, plus some surprises.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The Met Gala is famous for day-of surprises, and confirmations typically don’t drop until stars are already on the steps.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
The duo’s new power dynamic creates tension, but the screenplay pitches out-of-left-field surprises that seem disingenuous to Blunt’s character.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
The photos definitely did it justice and accurately depicted the sectional, so there were no surprises when it was delivered.
—Emma Tubbs, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
And expect some surprises as well.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Midwest Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Given this, what still surprises me is how rarely art schools teach the business realities of being an artist – and how often artists cling to the belief that their art alone will make their careers.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The Shrivers’ lasting influence still surprises their children.
—Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Nothing surprises you at Forest, but the Pereira situation feels relatively settled at present.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
This surprises many people, especially since the rules for the front seat are so strict and apply to everyone, regardless of age.
—Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
The first is that Agnes is in love with him, which surprises him despite the numerous occasions he’s gone out of his way to attract her attention.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
But Ran, another dark horse favorite and Kurosawa’s least straightforward Shakespeare adaptation, beat Carol, which surprises me.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Your Skin Benefits Too This one surprises people, but the research backs it up.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
Back at Big Thunder, there will be other fresh surprises, including 2,000 bats added in the approach to the ride’s rainbow caverns.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
The rest of my day included more life-affirming surprises.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Nearly every player and coach has identified the rookie as one of the biggest surprises so far with how quickly she’s adjusted to her role as the team’s floor general despite her inexperience.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
Martínez hosts monthly supper clubs that are open to the public for $125 per person, which includes welcome bites, mocktails and a four-course dinner, plus some surprises.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The Met Gala is famous for day-of surprises, and confirmations typically don’t drop until stars are already on the steps.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
The duo’s new power dynamic creates tension, but the screenplay pitches out-of-left-field surprises that seem disingenuous to Blunt’s character.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
The photos definitely did it justice and accurately depicted the sectional, so there were no surprises when it was delivered.
—Emma Tubbs, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
And expect some surprises as well.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
South Dakota surprises visitors with a diverse mix of landscapes, Western towns, and buzzy cities.
—Midwest Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Given this, what still surprises me is how rarely art schools teach the business realities of being an artist – and how often artists cling to the belief that their art alone will make their careers.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The Shrivers’ lasting influence still surprises their children.
—Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Nothing surprises you at Forest, but the Pereira situation feels relatively settled at present.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
This surprises many people, especially since the rules for the front seat are so strict and apply to everyone, regardless of age.
—Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
The first is that Agnes is in love with him, which surprises him despite the numerous occasions he’s gone out of his way to attract her attention.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
But Ran, another dark horse favorite and Kurosawa’s least straightforward Shakespeare adaptation, beat Carol, which surprises me.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Your Skin Benefits Too This one surprises people, but the research backs it up.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
Noun
-
The worry looming over the economy Earlier this month, Dimon had also warned in his shareholder letter that the war in Iran risks oil and commodity price shocks that could keep inflation sticky and push interest rates higher than the market now expects.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The move comes amid regional fallout in the Gulf amid the Iran war, which has triggered one of the worst oil shocks in history.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Service members could face ambushes en route, and specialized units would need to extract the uranium.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Once an octopus ambushes and bites its prey, the venom in its saliva paralyzes the prey, allowing the octopus to consume it.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The second thing that strikes me more and actually amazes me is the fact that this is a story, a trope, that is repeated in most of the presentation of Agnes Pockels.—
Mariel Carr,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Eva’s romance with her husband, Franklin Plaskett, delights and amazes her.—
Adelle Waldman,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On Earth, the dangerous terrorist group known as the Wolfpack attacks major landmarks, such as Big Ben.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Nektar Therapeutics said Monday that extended treatment with its experimental drug, called rezpeg, promoted greater hair growth in people with severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that attacks hair follicles.—
Adam Feuerstein,
STAT,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The jolts are muted, the setpieces are drab, and the gore is all too literally kept under wraps.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Then, as the pandemic waned, in 2023 and early ’24, came two jolts to the system – federal pandemic-era assistance ended, pulling food and food-related funding away from charities, and the number of people seeking food continued to grow.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Oscars, airing March 2 on ABC and streaming live on Hulu, will offer up kudos for some of these astonishments.—
Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Frankie Grande stuns in a velvet and diamond-studded emsemble for the premiere of Broadway's Titanique on April 12.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Trump's attack stuns the world.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those were among the biggest revelations from general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan during a Wednesday morning chat with WQAM’s Joe Rose.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Sometimes those revelations are heavy.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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