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surprise

Definition for surprise

noun as in something amazing; state of amazement

Strongest matches

amazement, astonishment, awe, bewilderment, consternation, curiosity, disappointment, jolt, miracle, revelation, shock, wonder

Strong matches

abruptness, attack, bombshell, disillusion, epiphany, eureka, fortune, godsend, incredulity, kick, marvel, miscalculation, phenomenon, portent, precipitance, precipitation, precipitousness, prodigy, rarity, start, stupefaction, suddenness, thunderbolt, whammy, wonderment

Weak matches

astoundment, curveball, eye-opener, unexpected, unforeseen

verb as in astonish; cause amazement

Strongest matches

amaze, astound, awe, bewilder, confound, confuse, dazzle, disconcert, dismay, dumbfound, flabbergast, overwhelm, perplex, rattle, shock, startle, stun, unsettle

Strong matches

consternate, daze, discomfit, electrify, floor, jar, jolt, nonplus, petrify, rock, stagger, stupefy

Weak matches

blow away, bowl over, cause wonder, leave aghast, leave open-mouthed, shake up, spring something on, strike dumb, strike with awe, take aback, take one's breath away, throw a curve

verb as in sneak up on; catch

Strongest match

Strong matches

ambush, bushwhack, capture, discover, grab, grasp, nab, seize, take, waylay

Weak matches

burst in on, catch in the act, catch off-balance, catch off-guard, catch red-handed, catch unawares, come down on, drop in on, lay for, lie in wait, spring on, take by surprise

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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.

And from one or two conversations I've had after her speech, including from some internal sceptics, "pleasant surprise" is a recurring theme.

Read more on BBC

The next Conservative government would abolish stamp duty on the sale of main homes, Kemi Badenoch has said, in a surprise announcement at the end of her first conference speech as party leader.

Read more on BBC

Eagle Rock is a little bit of a surprise.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

So it’s not a surprise that the right would want to hijack it for themselves.

Read more on Salon

The experience of bikepacking around Catalina Island was more than I had expected — both in its natural beauty and in its surprises.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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