unawares

adverb

ˌən-ə-ˈwerz How to pronounce unawares (audio)
Definition of unawaresnext
as in suddenly
without warning the thunderstorm caught us unawares, and we scrambled to get off the ridge as lightning started to flash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 unawares However, with no standardized dimensions across airlines, travelers have often been caught unawares with incorrectly sized bags when switching between carriers. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 5 July 2025 While the Terrans struggle to suppress a rebel faction incensed by humanity's alliance with the alien Vasudans, they're caught unawares by the return of an existential threat to the peace-loving species of the galaxy. — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025 This was not the first time the Alaska Volcanic Observatory (AVO) had been caught unawares by Veniaminof, even with rigorous monitoring. — Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 16 June 2025 The unfinished portrait drawing was a Regency fashion, as executed by professional society artists Thomas Lawrence and Richard Cosway, where the intention was to capture personality unawares, unstudied, as in life. — Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unawares
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unawares
  1. suddenly
  2. unexpectedly
Adverb
  • The former second-round pick is suddenly one of the Lakers’ primary summer league players and hopes to use the experience as an important stepping stone, building up his game while also establishing a leadership voice.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The astounding results delivered by Daraxonrasib, and likely by a new crop of medications now in development pipelines of pharma companies that work in a similar fashion, suddenly provide a significant opportunity to act.
    — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026
Definition of suddenly
Adverb
  • Expecting a change of pace, she is instead unexpectedly pulled into a murder investigation involving a female climate activist.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 July 2026
  • And suddenly, all those pages of analysis feel a lot like a MapQuest printout when the road is unexpectedly closed.
    — Jack O'Hara, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of unexpectedly

Browse Nearby Words

unawareness
unawares
unbalance
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Cite this Entry

“Unawares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unawares. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unawares

Nglish: Translation of unawares for Spanish Speakers

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