How to Use element of surprise in a Sentence

element of surprise

noun phrase
  • But for Miller, the element of surprise has run out.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • But even the element of surprise can’t help Colton here.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
  • Stepping into each stage of her life has come with an element of surprise.
    — Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 31 May 2023
  • Not bringing him up too soon, so the element of surprise can be leveraged.
    — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The element of surprise seemed, at that time, precious.
    — Lauren Rothery, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Yes, the element of surprise and the force of this breaching event can lead to the capture of their prey.
    — Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
  • But that's the fun of awards season—there's always an element of surprise to keep you on your toes.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 7 Jan. 2025
  • But the element of surprise is no longer on Calabasas’ side.
    — Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Uno Attack uses the element of surprise to kick the fun up a notch or two.
    — Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
  • There can also be some element of surprise in what most galvanizes a crowd.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Brinkley shared that stepping into each new stage of her life has come with an element of surprise.
    — Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 25 July 2023
  • There’s a clear vision, but also an element of surprise.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The element of surprise meant that fatalities were far greater than might have been the case.
    — WIRED, 30 Mar. 2023
  • The element of surprise and the clean, modern style are ideal for a business look workspace.
    — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • In addition to the all-white dress code, one of the dinner’s other draws is an element of surprise.
    — Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2023
  • The element of surprise ranks as one of the many reasons to catch the British pioneer on a rare tour.
    — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2024
  • Leaving an area undisturbed until the day of the hunt, which enhances the element of surprise.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
  • As with Normandy, the element of surprise would be central.
    — Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The biggest is the element of surprise—since markets don’t expect it, such a move would be a strong signal.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Sign up But what really makes this funny is the element of surprise.
    — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 24 Apr. 2023
  • Sports doesn’t just have the element of surprise going for it, when the next moment is the one that changes everything.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
  • The element of surprise might be their best shot against the veteran Wildcats.
    — Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • That same element of surprise will be on full display throughout the performance.
    — Shanae Hardy, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 June 2023
  • The end result is contemporary and chic and adds an element of surprise to any cooking space.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Don't be afraid to use drama, humor and the element of surprise to tell the stories that matter most to readers.
    — Caren Bohan, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • The buildup has robbed the Pentagon of the element of surprise, but that may not make a huge difference.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Derrick and Wes of the element of surprise and gives Rob the chance to prepare a defense.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Clubs have benefitted from an element of surprise, too.
    — Melissa Repko, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The element of surprise attached to the program has proved popular.
    — Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 May 2023
  • Adding an element of surprise proved to be an effective strategy.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'element of surprise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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