Thesaurus results for SURPRISES

surprises 1 of 2

noun

variants also surprizes

plural of surprise

as in shocks

something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected the anniversary party was such a complete surprise that the couple was speechless for a moment

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Relevance

as in amazements

the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual stared in utter surprise at the deer in his cabin

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as in ambushes

a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait waited under cover of darkness and took the enemy encampment by surprise at dawn

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surprises

2 of 2

verb

variants also surprizes

present tense third-person singular of surprise

as in amazes

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

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as in attacks

to lie in wait for and attack by surprise FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations

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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 surprises

Noun

Lots to choose from here, as this World Cup has been a voyage of (mainly) pleasant surprises so far. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026 This contributed to beautiful surprises, moments of repose, and bold flavors on each day of my visit. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 And the gap between what people expect and what actually happens is one of the most expensive surprises in business. — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The find suggests one of NASA’s most successful planet hunters may still have plenty of surprises hiding in its archives. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 6 July 2026 The Rise of Online Communities One of the biggest surprises for many newcomers is how social modern dating platforms have become. — Matthew Kayser updated July 6, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026 Of all of the surprises to come out of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, the fact that Adam Sandler officiated was perhaps the biggest one. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 6 July 2026 To avoid any surprises, shoppers should check store hours before heading out to the supermarket on Saturday, July 4 – the nation's semiquincentennial. — Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026 Big Brother Season 28 has many surprises stored for houseguests and viewers alike, and to kick off the new season, the reality competition is heading to YouTube. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 6 July 2026

Verb

What surprises founders is how often the fixes are small. — Usman Ilyas, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 This is where the junk drawer surprises people. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026 What surprises people most is the diversity of the landscape here. — Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 26 June 2026 However, this is also a series that surprises audiences with mysterious twins that have been under your nose the whole time. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 June 2026 His plans take a turn when Minnie surprises him and the gang with tickets to spend Christmas at a world-famous Ice Palace. — Matt Minton, Variety, 16 June 2026 The explanation often surprises viewers, many of whom assume a house sold for one euro must come with significant strings attached. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 What the program asks of you in return The 200 hours of sweat equity is the part of the program that surprises some applicants. — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 Home to the largest freshwater dune system in the world, Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore often surprises first-time visitors with its stunning 450-feet-high dunes set against the deep-blue waters of Lake Michigan. — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 24 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises

Noun

Pandemic bottlenecks, wars, climate shocks and geopolitical tension exposed the fragility of global supply chains.

— Robert C. Wolcott, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Asian stocks still have room to run even after a blistering first-half rally, while investors should continue diversifying into commodities as geopolitical shocks reinforce long-term demand for metals and energy infrastructure, Goldman Sachs said.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 29 June 2026

Definition of shocks

Noun

By his spiritual discernment, the prophet Elisha was repeatedly able to warn the king of Israel about ambushes planned by the king of Syria.

— Liesl Ehmke, Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 2026
Cuba also maintains elite forces trained for counter-special-operations missions, guerrilla warfare, ambushes, sabotage and close protection of senior leaders.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026

Definition of ambushes

Verb

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Another device, called a 4-Poster bait station, attacks the ticks that congregate on deer’s heads.

— Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

Takeoff and landing are when many aviation incidents occur—they’re considered the most critical phases of a flight and when an aircraft is most vulnerable to sudden, unexpected jolts of motion.

— Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
The building jolts and is cloaked in blackness.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026

Definition of jolts

Noun

The heat wave is making a bad air-quality situation worse as a high-pressure system traps soot and fine particles close to the ground instead of dispersing them.

— Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
How Often To Clean A Jute Rug The textured weave of a jute rug traps sand, dirt, and dust.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

Definition of traps

Verb

Set the scene This resort stuns, with magical panoramic views of the northern coastline of Crete.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Tabitha and Jade flee into the tunnels after an earthquake temporarily stuns the monsters, and Jade and his crew race to their vehicles to outrun the monsters that have come to the surface under the cover of this false night.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Definition of stuns

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“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of surprises

noun

verb

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