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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Locking that in on arrival prevents surprises deeper into a back-to-back trip stretch. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 Sparks promises surprises from the tour, but don’t expect a tearful tribute for Finch like the one that took place at one of their warm-up shows in San Diego. — Courtney Devores, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026 Afterward, Fielder pleaded with the crowd to keep the film’s biggest surprises to themselves. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Checking the policy before booking and communicating preferences at check-in can help avoid surprises. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 Their flawless start has been one of the season’s biggest surprises. — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 Methanol, coming as part of the 'chemical starter kit' around young stars, has produced some unexpected surprises that could ultimately reveal some of the conditions in which planets and potentially life form around protostars. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026 So put a monitoring system in place to avoid surprises, as much as possible, from an unpredictable colleague. — Dorie Clark, Contributor, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 Amid the surprises, the families also celebrated the joy of welcoming their babies, especially for Brady, who said the pregnancy came after two miscarriages. — Marlee Ginter, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Verb

Each step sends a ripple through the spongy, thin mat, a slow undulating motion beneath your feet that surprises the senses, disorienting yet simultaneously strangely delightful. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 After more than 13 years of working together, Jordan rarely surprises me. — Alla Adam, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 What usually surprises them is how much time goes into the preparation and the care, not just the color, and how long the results last. — Lucy Abbersteen, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026 Pears The fiber content of pears often surprises people, Johnson said. — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 22 Sep. 2026 The workers’ comp rule that surprises almost everyone Most states require workers’ compensation insurance once a business hires its first employee. — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 In the scene, Ashley dances in her bedroom to music on her Walkman when Smith walks in and surprises her by dancing along. — Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 The consequence is really mechanical attacking that surprises nobody and desperately needs a rogue element. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Every March and September, this event attracts spectators from all over to Apache Junction, eager to witness this breathtaking moment when nature surprises us. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprises

Noun

Following a series of global shocks, the average developing country now spends more than ten percent of its revenue on interest on debt, [nearly double the burden a decade ago], crowding out investment for growth.

— Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
But a new generation of refineries has the potential to transform economies, not only protecting countries from future energy shocks but providing the baseload power needed to ramp up manufacturing.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of shocks

Noun

With roads around the hospital unsafe, transferring patients to other facilities was not an option in the first hours of the attack, while sending ambulances into the field risked exposing them to Hamas ambushes.

— Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Social Media Capture The underlying tactic is not new, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces having previously used armed FPV drones to conduct roadside ambushes.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of ambushes

Verb

What amazes me is there seems to be a wide swath of Michiganders who don’t seem to mind being lied to.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
His greatness is never in question, but to have the league at a standstill because of a 41-year-old free agent amazes me.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of amazes

Verb

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks healthy cells in the central nervous system.

— Mark Morales, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Why Autoimmune Diseases Are Easy to Miss Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

The dwelling has evolved over the years as Jenner has matured and trends have shifted, now imbued with warm neutrals and an air of serenity rather than bold jolts of energy.

— Architectural Digest, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2026
Riley, who finished with 232 all-purpose yards Friday, provided the jolts early as the Blackhawks used big plays to counter the grind-it-out attack used by Streamwood.

— Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of jolts

Noun

Sticky traps with dead insects on them were seen under dry storage area and on the side of a deep freezer.

— Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
These traps kill rats, but also gather information about movements and population sizes, according to the health district.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of traps

Verb

Haslet Eaton stuns Keller Central Haslet Eaton upset Keller Central on Thursday, earning a 28-27 victory in a thriller.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2026
Innanen stuns as Paul Baker — full name all the time — a Canadian newcomer to the group who becomes integral to his friends’ emotional processing all while operating as the resident Gen-Z eye candy.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of stuns

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“Surprises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprises. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of surprises

noun

verb

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