surprise attack

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.

The talks were due to continue the following week; Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a surprise attack on a Saturday.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

Only weeks after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the emperor’s soldiers swept south through Malaya, often riding on cheap pushbikes in an assault dubbed “the bicycle blitzkrieg.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

This would put most of its missiles out of range and make an Oct. 7-style surprise attack much less likely.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2024

Another survivor said simply of the "surprise" attack: "We were helpless."

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2024

I picked him up in the minivan and then we drove to Ben’s house, figuring that a surprise attack would be the only way to wake him up.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green