Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com

caught off guard

ADJECTIVE
unprepared
Synonyms
STRONGEST
unaware vulnerable
WEAK
ad-lib ill-considered impromptu improvised napping not prepared off the cuff off the top of one's head offhand played by ear spontaneous surprised taken off guard unexpected unplanned unready unrehearsed unschooled unskilled untrained winged

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Investors were caught off guard by the yield surge, which suggests that the market had become a little complacent about inflation despite hot consumer and wholesale price readings this week.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

The nature of the camera in Meta's glasses can be so unobtrusive that even their wearers have been caught off guard by what and when they're recording, and where those recordings are going.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Years before that, the Lego Group was caught off guard by Polish artist Zbigniew Libera’s 1996 installation, “LEGO Concentration Camp.”

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

He said that KKR isn’t caught off guard by the prospect of AI upending its software investments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

I was caught off guard by how intensely I already hated her.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "caught off guard" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com