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 traps
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
Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
In a fairly brief novel, Huneven garnishes the story with surprises, detailing her characters with precision and a sure hand.
—The Know, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
Despite the compact size, the Blade 14 surprises with a wide range of ports.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2025
These are not surprises but Gurman is more bullish than others about the eSIM-only note.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
For Rebecca Zeitlin, packing her 5-year-old son’s school lunch is always full of surprises.
—Kate Sequeira, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Powder rooms are playful surprises, featuring kaleidoscopic wallpaper and scalloped marble vanities—a motif that pops up throughout the house.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
In one of the surprises of the 53-man roster cutdown, the six-year veteran landed back with Kansas City on its practice squad.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
But these products have earned a permanent place in my routine with gentler, steadier skin and fewer surprises.
—Micaela English, Flow Space, 27 Aug. 2025
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Possibly, a relative, neighbor or daily contact will do something that surprises you.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
There's nothing Kyle does that surprises us.
—John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Tucked into the foothills of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Woodstock is the kind of place that surprises you.
—Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Deion Sanders is always prepared going into game days as Colorado’s head coach, but a certain smell during home games still surprises him.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Josh Pais, the original voice actor of Raphael, surprises Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans at a celebration of the series and his new book.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Molnár János surprises many first-time visitors.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Sometimes Google surprises us with something experimental.
—Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
Fans got an evening full of Moon Persons being handed out, show-stopping performances and plenty of surprises along the way — including a live f-bomb and touching family moment with the Osbournes.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
In a fairly brief novel, Huneven garnishes the story with surprises, detailing her characters with precision and a sure hand.
—The Know, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
Despite the compact size, the Blade 14 surprises with a wide range of ports.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2025
These are not surprises but Gurman is more bullish than others about the eSIM-only note.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
For Rebecca Zeitlin, packing her 5-year-old son’s school lunch is always full of surprises.
—Kate Sequeira, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Powder rooms are playful surprises, featuring kaleidoscopic wallpaper and scalloped marble vanities—a motif that pops up throughout the house.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
In one of the surprises of the 53-man roster cutdown, the six-year veteran landed back with Kansas City on its practice squad.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
But these products have earned a permanent place in my routine with gentler, steadier skin and fewer surprises.
—Micaela English, Flow Space, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
If that surprises you, don’t feel alarmed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Possibly, a relative, neighbor or daily contact will do something that surprises you.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
There's nothing Kyle does that surprises us.
—John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Tucked into the foothills of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Woodstock is the kind of place that surprises you.
—Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Deion Sanders is always prepared going into game days as Colorado’s head coach, but a certain smell during home games still surprises him.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Josh Pais, the original voice actor of Raphael, surprises Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans at a celebration of the series and his new book.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Molnár János surprises many first-time visitors.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Sometimes Google surprises us with something experimental.
—Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises
Noun
-
The sunbathers of sleepy Amity Bay are helpless against the unexpected great white shark that hunts their coasts; Spielberg’s talent for suspense, effective horror shocks, and ingenious reinvention of the classic animal-attack movie remain as impressive as ever.—
Christina Newland,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
With houses built mostly of dry masonry, stone, and timber, some families preferred to stay in the open to guard against shocks, rather than return home.—
Mohammad Yunus Yawar,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The mission has also lost two members of its force in gang ambushes; while one has been confirmed dead the other is still been regarded as missing even though local media has reported him as dead.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The recent Hamas ambushes have also raised growing concerns among Israeli military officials that more soldiers could be captured.—
Leila Seurat,
Foreign Affairs,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
What amazes me is how the same film sparks such different conversations, depending on the room.—
Eitan Weiss,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Remus, who is now 5, amazes his family by reading books on his own, a development which Whittenburg attributes in part to the Imagination Library.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But the plan came to a screeching halt Friday morning after revelations came to light about the former CEO of the company the city had hoped would redevelop and manage the iconic stadium on Virginia Key.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The family had to leave their dream home and rebuild their lives after the revelations.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Chamarel, Mauritius Spilling across the volcanic hills of southwest Mauritius, Chamarel stuns with its terrain—Seven Coloured Earth ripples in bands of violet, ochre, and rust, shifting under the tropical sun like a living canvas.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
The 75-inch Roku Pro Series is a massive 4K television that stuns with vibrant colors, hands-free voice control, and a $701 discount.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Keep reading for Entertainment Weekly's breakdown of the highlights, bombshells, and everything that's transpired since the season 7 Love Island USA reunion.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Over six weeks, the contestants coupled up, decoupled, sent fellow castmembers home, participated in challenges and resisted (or gave into) the temptation of new attractive bombshells.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As the dolphin gets closer to the glass, the Chihuahua lets out a bark that startles the dolphin, who then starts mimicking the dog's mouth movements in a sort of chasing game across species.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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