SUDDEN Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'sudden' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sudden are abrupt , headlong , impetuous , and precipitate . While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action. // flew into a sudden rage

Q: When might 'abrupt' be a better fit than 'sudden'?

Although the words abrupt and sudden have much in common, abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony. // an abrupt refusal

Q: When is it sensible to use 'headlong' instead of 'sudden'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sudden , headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought. // a headlong flight from arrest

Q: When is 'impetuous' a more appropriate choice than 'sudden'?

The meanings of impetuous and sudden largely overlap; however, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness. // an impetuous lover proposing marriage

Q: Where would 'precipitate' be a reasonable alternative to 'sudden'?

While the synonyms precipitate and sudden are close in meaning, precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action. // the army's precipitate withdrawal

sudden

adjective

ˈsə-dᵊn

Definition of sudden next

as in unexpected

not expected the sudden snowstorm resulted in thousands of evening commuters abandoning their cars on impassable highways

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sudden contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sudden are abrupt, headlong, impetuous, and precipitate. While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

When might abrupt be a better fit than sudden?

Although the words abrupt and sudden have much in common, abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

When is it sensible to use headlong instead of sudden?

While in some cases nearly identical to sudden, headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

When is impetuous a more appropriate choice than sudden?

The meanings of impetuous and sudden largely overlap; however, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

Where would precipitate be a reasonable alternative to sudden?

While the synonyms precipitate and sudden are close in meaning, precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sudden His death sparked essential conversations about mental health, suicide, and the lasting impact of sudden loss on families. —

Essence, 10 Jan. 2025 Recent observations collected on the Comet Observation database (COBS) suggest that, on Jan. 2, 2025, G3 ATLAS experienced a sudden outburst, showing a nearly four-fold increase in apparent brightness. —

Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025 Whether that sudden shift befuddled his opponent is unclear, but just 40 seconds later Shang Zhifa was sprawled on the canvas, felled by a vicious right hand. —

Charlie Campbell, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025 Symptoms include sudden sharp, tearing, or ripping chest pain that radiates to the shoulder blades, back, abdomen, and hips.26 6. —

Lindsay Curtis, Health, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sudden