1
as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
the surprising news that they were going to have a baby had them rushing to buy nursery furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in astonishing
causing wonder or astonishment
it's surprising how much knowledge of physics the architects of those immense medieval cathedrals must have had
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also surprizing
1
as in amazing
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 ambushing
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of surprising
Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Mar. 2025
None of this should be surprising considering the grand jury report chastising the district’s management policies and poor board meeting accessibility.
—Mercury News Editorial, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
As a somewhat surprising side effect, my daily dose of AG1 has also encouraged me to eat healthier.
—Maggie Slepian, Glamour, 24 Mar. 2025
So when Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love finishes a 24-yard scramble by puffing his chest and taunting Jarrett, the response is far from surprising.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surprising
Adjective
And then, of course, the subject is maybe surprising.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Mar. 2025
None of this should be surprising considering the grand jury report chastising the district’s management policies and poor board meeting accessibility.
—Mercury News Editorial, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
As a somewhat surprising side effect, my daily dose of AG1 has also encouraged me to eat healthier.
—Maggie Slepian, Glamour, 24 Mar. 2025
So when Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love finishes a 24-yard scramble by puffing his chest and taunting Jarrett, the response is far from surprising.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprising
Adjective
-
Their level of music knowledge at Bandcamp is startling and insanely impressive.—
Steve Baltin,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The freeze frame at the end faded to a startling shade of (blood!) red.—
Zoe G. Phillips,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This was a 90% increase over the 9.9 million viewers who tuned in for the 2023 final and an astonishing 288% jump from 2022.—
Jenn Nelson,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
-
An astonishing, loopy and very true World War II story about Great Britain tricking Germany into believing false invasion plans has been the source material for non-fiction books and movies dramas.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
To push attendance higher and garner more interest MLR needs to deliver an amazing product and Americans need to win.—
Vitas Carosella,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Keep shopping for even more amazing discounts on affordable luxury bags below.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Embracing different cultures: There is plenty of wonderful Mexican culture depicted throughout the film, from cooking traditional dishes to the vibrant atmosphere.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Cherish these moments and know that your efforts to preserve their voices are a wonderful tribute to your relationships.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Jung-bae wound up in a room of three, with Player 001 and some rando — but Player 001 choked the stranger to death in time to reduce their head count, shocking Jung-bae more than a bit.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Fox News Digital obtained shocking audio between Cyrus and his estranged wife where the country crooner is heard berating his Australian ex and using profane language.—
Ashley Hume,
Fox News,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The stunning layer cake is perfect for spring celebrations.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Gavin Newsom makes stunning admission on Dems' dwindling support.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
One traffic violation on a Kansas highway led to the miraculous rescue of a 6-year-old girl who had been kidnapped.—
Leah Sarnoff,
ABC News,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Colorado State’s Jalen Lake hit a miraculous triple over high hands in similar circumstances.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This tech — along with the incredible support system of my parents, brothers, management team and eventually, my wife — significantly decreased the mental burden of managing my diabetes and in turn, empowered me to not let diabetes define my capabilities.—
Nick Jonas,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
-
In this era of just like high risers and incredible athleticism, that’s obviously not the thing that jumps off the screen with him.—
Sam Cohn,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprising. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share