surprise attack

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The talks were due to continue the following week; Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a surprise attack on a Saturday.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

The pair arrived in the country just months before the Yom Kippur war in 1973, when a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria overran Israel’s front line.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

And from there he made an audacious, surprise attack into Turn One and grabbed the lead, before spending the rest of the race holding the Ferrari at bay with a masterclass of defensive driving.

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2024

This would put most of its missiles out of range and make an Oct. 7-style surprise attack much less likely.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2024

“The Japanese in a predawn surprise attack have destroyed the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. I repeat. The White House has confirmed that the Japanese...”

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson