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surprise

Definition for surprise

noun as in something amazing; state of amazement

Strongest matches

amazement, astonishment, awe, bewilderment, consternation, curiosity, disappointment, jolt, miracle, revelation, shock, wonder

Strong matches

abruptness, attack, bombshell, disillusion, epiphany, eureka, fortune, godsend, incredulity, kick, marvel, miscalculation, phenomenon, portent, precipitance, precipitation, precipitousness, prodigy, rarity, start, stupefaction, suddenness, thunderbolt, whammy, wonderment

Weak matches

astoundment, curveball, eye-opener, unexpected, unforeseen

verb as in astonish; cause amazement

Strongest matches

amaze, astound, awe, bewilder, confound, confuse, dazzle, disconcert, dismay, dumbfound, flabbergast, overwhelm, perplex, rattle, shock, startle, stun, unsettle

Strong matches

consternate, daze, discomfit, electrify, floor, jar, jolt, nonplus, petrify, rock, stagger, stupefy

Weak matches

blow away, bowl over, cause wonder, leave aghast, leave open-mouthed, shake up, spring something on, strike dumb, strike with awe, take aback, take one's breath away, throw a curve

verb as in sneak up on; catch

Strongest match

Strong matches

ambush, bushwhack, capture, discover, grab, grasp, nab, seize, take, waylay

Weak matches

burst in on, catch in the act, catch off-balance, catch off-guard, catch red-handed, catch unawares, come down on, drop in on, lay for, lie in wait, spring on, take by surprise

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Example Sentences

Over the span of a year, I’ve seen Jurado’s remarkable journey from political long shot to surprise winner to history maker.

From Los Angeles Times

This was a total surprise to find that this exists in a culture.

From Salon

It's no surprise that he'd rather give a key Cabinet seat to someone he likes to look at, rather than someone who can serve the interests of military personnel.

From Salon

In that spirit, it's no surprise that Hegseth's model for the ideal military man is not a real person from history or even someone he knows, but a movie character.

From Salon

The billionaire buisnessman's version comes three months after Lil Jon gave a surprise performance of the song at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to mark Kamala Harris becoming the party’s presidential nominee.

From BBC

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From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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