surprising 1 of 2

adjective

sər-ˈprī-ziŋ How to pronounce surprising (audio)
Definition of surprisingnext
1
as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness the surprising news that they were going to have a baby had them rushing to buy nursery furniture

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in astonishing
causing wonder or astonishment it's surprising how much knowledge of physics the architects of those immense medieval cathedrals must have had

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

surprising

2 of 2

verb

variants also surprizing
present participle of surprise
1
as in amazing
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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2
as in ambushing
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 surprising
Adjective
The twists and turns are constantly surprising and usually violent. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026 England's all-time leading scorer evened the score with a header after Brian Cipenga had given Congo a surprising halftime lead. — CBS News, 1 July 2026
Verb
Across social media, videos show pups reacting to everything from fake treats and disappearing acts to harmless tricks like surprising them on walks outside, leaving them confused, curious and hilariously offended. — Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026 Druski's already kicked off his hosting duties in a big way, sharing the news of his hosting with A-listers like Cardi B and Jamie Foxx by surprising them with gospel choirs, mariachi bands and even on horseback. — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for surprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprising
  1. startling
  2. astonishing
  3. amazing
  4. ambushing
  5. shocking
  6. wonderful
  7. stunning
  8. attacking
Adjective
  • The practical effect, according to Fred Vogler, who has been the Bowl’s principal sound designer since 2003, is startling.
    — Dave Brooks, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Oddly drawn to disconnect, horror fans crave novel experiences that feel both startling and strangely familiar.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • Their defensive commitment was astonishing, compact and aggressive in a 5-4-1 shape throughout, limiting the overwhelming tournament favourites to pot-shots for over an hour.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Laptop Deal The HP OmniBook 3 redefines long-haul productivity by delivering an astonishing 32 hours and 15 minutes of operating on a single charge.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026
Definition of astonishing
Verb
  • In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.
    — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
Definition of amazing
Verb
  • Prosecutors, meanwhile, have alleged that Mangione meticulously planned the killing for months, documenting his thoughts in journals and traveling across the country before ambushing Thompson in New York City.
    — Stepheny Price , Michael Ruiz , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
  • Lit up by minor-leaguers ambushing first-pitch fastballs?
    — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 8 June 2026
Definition of ambushing
Adjective
  • Cape Verde began this run by making a statement, producing a shocking 0-0 draw against soccer powerhouse Spain on June 15 in its first-ever World Cup match.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • The animals, the cool weather and the wonderful people of this region made for a memorable trip.
    — Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • Bat boxes are a wonderful addition to your yard for attracting bats and giving them a safe place to live.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 2 July 2026
Definition of wonderful
Verb
  • Margaret deploys this power to find Daniel and to free him from Noah and the WARDEX minions—essentially, by stunning them emotionally.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Definition of stunning
Verb
  • Electing to keep his No 5 on the field, the Brazil head coach made a subtle tactical tweak that saw Endrick enter the action and brought Matheus Cunha further to the left flank — which unlocked the attacking prowess of Vinicius Junior.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • In patients with type 1 diabetes, the immune system starts attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 July 2026
Definition of attacking

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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on surprising

Nglish: Translation of surprising for Spanish Speakers

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